Arvind Kejriwal ED News Live Updates: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. (Express Photo by Prem Nath Pandey)Delhi News Highlights: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take legal opinion on the Enforcement Directorate’s fresh summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he returns from his Vipassana, senior party leader Gopal Rai said on Saturday, news agency PTI reported. After Kejriwal skipped the second summons on Thursday, the ED Friday again issued a notice to Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 in its Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering investigation. This comes a day after his judicial custody was extended till January 10.
Meanwhile, five international flights and two domestic flights were delayed from the Delhi airport due to a thick layer of fog that enveloped the national capital, affecting visibility. While the domestic flights were bound for Cochin and Shimla, the international flights were destined for Melbourne, Rome, Riyadh, San Francisco and Vancouver. No flight cancellations have been reported so far. Delhi on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 9.6 degrees Celsius, two notches above the season’s average, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Meanwhile, the air quality index (AQI) in the national capital on Saturday morning was recorded under ‘severe’ category, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said.
In other news, at a time when the country has been witnessing an uptick in Covid-19 cases, Noida reported its first coronavirus case in months after a man tested positive for the virus on Thursday. Gurgaon has also reported two Covid-19 positive cases this week with both patients currently in home isolation.
Earlier this week, the investigating agency had called Kejriwal for questioning on Thursday in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. (File Photo)
In last 6 months, Gurgaon sold liquor worth Rs 1,842 crore
At the end of the first two quarters, the Gurgaon excise department has sold liquor worth Rs 1,842 crore, officials said.
According to Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner (West) Amit Bhatia, the district has sold liquor worth Rs 1,842 crore over the last six months, meaning liquor worth Rs 300 crore was being consumed every month.
“Rs 1,518 crore was collected from liquor sales in the east and west zones in the district. This is a 20% increase from last year’s collection for six months,” Bhatia said. Read more here.
Delhi pollution: Centre puts off implementing stricter curbs for now, to wait and watch
The Centre Saturday decided to hold off on implementing stricter measures to curb air pollution in Delhi-NCR, preferring to assess the effectiveness of the current actions, news agency PTI reported.
The central government on Friday ordered a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid worsening air quality in the region.
A Sub-Committee of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for planning air pollution mitigation measures in Delhi-NCR, reviewed the situation on Saturday, the Environment Ministry said.
Observing that GRAP Stage III curbs were implemented only a day ago, the committee decided to wait and observe the impact of the measures implemented under Stage III before considering more severe actions under Stage IV, it said.
Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to around 450 on Saturday afternoon.
According to the CAQM, unfavourable meteorological conditions, including fog and haze, and low wind speed are the major causes behind the sudden spike in Delhi's daily average AQI. (PTI)
2 new Covid-19 cases reported in Gurgaon
Two new Covid-19 cases were reported in Gurgaon on Saturday.
A 36-year-old man who travelled from Indonesia and a 32-year-old woman are the patients. Both had mild symptoms, officials said.
This takes the active cases tally to four in the district, all reported since Wednesday.
'Why is Centre not taking any action?': Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj
After Lieutenant-Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI enquiry in the matter of non-standard drugs being administered at Delhi government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, speaking at a press conference, said, "If there has been any corruption in the procurement of drugs, then why is the central government not taking any action on health secretary SB Deepak who is responsible for suh procurements."
"I have issued several directions about the audit of these drugs but no action take report has been submitted by the officials," said Bharadwaj.
"Centre has ended the accountability of officials to the health minister so what more can we do. The officials do not listen to our orders in the meetings," Bharadwaj told the reporters.
"I have conducted meetings for each and every hospital with each and every department head of the 32 Delhi government hospital and the health secretary has not attended even one meeting because their accountability is towards the central government so the central government should conduct inquiry as well," Bharadwaj added.
"We have written letters to central govt to initiate enquiry against health secretary but they have not taken any action: Bhardwaj. I request centre to initiate inquiry and suspend SB Deepak and former DGHS Nutan Mundeja," Bharadwaj told the reporters.
Ruckus during special session of MCD House, BJP members protest
Ruckus prevailed during a special session of the municipal House on Saturday as BJP councillors protested during the proceedings over issues related to sealing of shops, news agency PTI reported.
The special session, called to discuss issues pertaining to de-sealing of properties falling under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), was marred by sloganeering and protests by opposition members, officials told the news agency.
Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the House, Raja Iqbal Singh, and several other BJP councillors held placards and raised slogans against the AAP and the party-led civic body. Many even trooped to the Well of the House during the protest, they said. Read more here.
Delhi-NCR: Man's body with bullet injury found in taxi in Manesar
The body of a man with a bullet injury was found in the driver's seat of a taxi parked outside a dhaba in Manesar on Saturday morning, police told news agency PTI.
The deceased, who is yet to be identified, was allegedly shot on the temple Friday late night, SHO Virender Kumar said.
The police received information about the body in the car on Saturday morning and reached the spot, Kumar said. The taxi was found parked on the roadside in front of Aravali Dhaba in Manesar on the Delhi-Jaipur highway, he said.
The car and the body were taken into custody, the Manesar SHO said, adding that the body has been sent to a mortuary.
"We are trying to identify the body with the help of the registration number of the taxi. We are reviewing the CCTV footage of the nearby area and further probe is underway. An FIR is being registered in the matter," the SHO added. (PTI)
AAP to seek legal opinion on fresh ED summons to Kejriwal: Gopal Rai
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will take legal opinion on the Enforcement Directorate's fresh summons to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal after he returns from his Vipassana, senior party leader Gopal Rai told news agency PTI on Saturday.
After Kejriwal skipped the second summons on Thursday, the ED Friday again issued a notice to Kejriwal for questioning on January 3 in its Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering investigation.
Rai told PTI-Video on the sidelines of a press conference that "currently, the chief minister is undertaking a Vipassana". "There is no communication with him. Once he returns, we will take a legal opinion, and then decide about it," he said
On the summons, the AAP in a statement on Friday had said it is just political vendetta to counter the growing popularity of the party across the country.
This is the third notice to Kejriwal, who is the AAP's national convenor, after he refused to appear before the federal agency on two earlier summonses for November 2 and December 21. (PTI)
Supply of 'non-standard' drugs in Delhi govt hospitals: L-G recommends CBI inquiry
Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena recommended a CBI inquiry into the alleged procurement and supply of "non-standard" drugs in Delhi government hospitals, Raj Niwas officials said on Saturday, news agency PTI reported.
When asked about the matter on the sidelines of a press conference, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai, who is also the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Delhi state convener, told PTI that the government will come out with a detailed response. He also alleged that there is an attempt to obstruct the work of the government through such inquiries.
The Raj Niwas officials, according to the news agency, said that in a note to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, the Lt Governor mentioned that it is concerning that these medicines are being given to lakhs of patients. "It is with a sense of deep concern that I have perused the file. I am, to say the least, anguished at the fact that lakhs of hapless people and patients are being supplied fake drugs that have failed quality standard tests," read the note to Kumar.
These drugs, procured by the Central Procurement Agency (CPA) under the Delhi Health Services (DHS), were supplied to Delhi government hospitals and may also have been supplied to 'Mohalla Clinics', the Lt Governor said in his note. "Tested by government as well as private analysts/laboratories as per rules and statutory provisions under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, these have failed and are categorised as 'Not of Standard Quality'," he said.
Saxena, in his note, also said, "these drugs procured by spending huge budgetary resources are a grave threat to public health and safety" and have the "potential of endangering lives of people".
The Directorate of Vigilance had submitted a report in the matter. There were complaints of sub-standard medicines being supplied in Delhi government hospitals. Subsequently, samples were collected from the government hospitals, the Raj Niwas officials said. Responding to queries on the issue, Rai said he had not seen the details of the matter.
"The government will give its response after a detailed study. But such a system of sending matters for inquiries to the CBI has become a medium of obstructing work of the government. Officers stop taking decisions on matters. But in this matter, the government will study it," he told PTI.
Sources in the AAP government claimed that a complaint against a senior health department official was sent to the Lt Governor earlier. "Now, will the Lt Governor take action against this officer? The same official was responsible for stopping the 'Dilli Ke Farishte' scheme. We had earlier requested the Lt Governor to remove this official," a source told the news agency. (PTI)
Air pollution: Delhi environment minister directs effective implementation of Stage-3 GRAP curbs
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Saturday asked all departments concerned to reactivate their teams for effective implementation of curbs under Stage-3 of the Centre's air pollution control plan.
"In view of worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management re-invoked curbs under Stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This means a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR," he said.
The minister said the government has alerted all 28 departments involved in pollution control efforts. "They have been asked to reactivate their teams to manage the situation at the earliest," he said. Rai said non-essential construction work, stone crushing and mining will remain banned in Delhi until further orders. (PTI)
Delhi LG recommends CBI enquiry in matter of non-standard drugs being administered at Delhi govt hospitals
LG VK Saxena has recommended a CBI enquiry in the matter of non-standard drugs being administered at Delhi government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics. He has raised concern over the “hefty” budgetary allocation in procurement of such drugs as well by the Delhi government’s Central Procurement Agency.
Haryana govt announces winter vacations in schools from January 1 to 15 due to increasing cold
The Haryana Government on Saturday announced winter vacations for all Government and Private schools from January 1 to January 15, 2024.
The decision comes in view of the cold wave expected in the state in the next few days. The schools will open on January 16, 2024 as per the circular issued by the state administration. The information was shared by the Haryana Chief Minister's office's official Twitter handle.
Yesterday, the minimum temperatures were recorded in the range of 4-8 deg C over most parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, as per the India Meteorological Department. (PTI)
Parliament security breach case: 6th accused sent to 13 days police custody
The 6th accused Mahesh Kumawat has been sent to 13 days of police custody in the Parliament security breach case. After 13 days, all six accused will be produced in the Court of Hardeep Kaur in Patiala House.
While Manoranjan D and Sagar Sharma were arrested for jumping into the Lok Sabha chamber from the visitors’ gallery and opening coloured smoke cans, Azad and Amol Shinde were held for opening canisters outside Parliament.
Jha was responsible for live-streaming the event, and he along with Kumawat allegedly destroyed the phones of the accused. They met on a Facebook group called the ‘Bhagat Singh Fan Page’.
Signature View Apartments residents told to leave by Dec 25, HC stay extended
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) issued an eviction order to residents of Signature View Apartments in Mukherjee Nagar, giving them time till December 25 to vacate.
The MCD, which classifies buildings as dangerous or not, in its order cited studies done on the structural integrity of the building by IIT-Delhi and Shri Ram Institute of Industrial Research (SIIR) that declared 12 blocks (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L) unfit for inhabitation. The studies found that the structure appears to have higher than permissible chloride content which led to the deterioration of concrete and corrosion of the iron-bar reinforcements. (Read More)
Dedicated counter, eye on loaders: Here’s how police plan to stop thefts from checked-in bags at Delhi Airport
A separate counter to file complaints, increased police presence in all areas, including terminals, and random checking of baggage handling staff: The Delhi Police has introduced a slew of measures to curb thefts from check-in baggage at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
This year, senior officers said 42 luggage loaders have been arrested for stealing valuables (expensive watches to iPhones) from baggage as compared to 32 last year. Said an officer, “Theft cases have posed a security concern at the airport and police have taken proactive measures to address the issue by conducting thorough investigations and implementing preventive measures.”
Loaders, who carry baggage from the terminal to the aircraft belly or baggage storage area, are now under increased surveillance. They generally belong to independent loader companies or firms attached to the parent airline. (Read More)
66-year-old woman dragged out of e-rickshaw by snatcher succumbs to injuries
Days after she was dragged out of an e-rickshaw by a man on a bike who snatched her purse, a 66-year-old woman from Arunachal Pradesh died of injuries on Thursday night. Police have so far not made any arrests in the case, which took place in North Delhi’s Civil Lines on Sunday.
The woman, Kesang Dorjee, suffered multiple injuries to her head and was undergoing treatment at a hospital. She had come to Delhi to meet her son, Pasang, a businessman. Her son said, “I am shattered… my father passed away 10 years ago.”
Dorjee and her family had come to the capital on December 16-17 and went to have lunch at Tibet Colony. Later, they were travelling from Majnu Ka Tila to the Metro station; the woman was sitting on one side of the e-rickshaw while her daughters were on the other side. Suddenly, an unknown person came towards the vehicle and attempted to snatch her purse. The woman resisted and was dragged out of the vehicle. (Read More)
Watch | Dense layer of fog in the National Capital as cold wave grips further
Water sprinklers pressed into service as AQI remains 'severe' category in Delhi-NCR
Water sprinklers pressed into service as AQI fell under 'severe' category in Delhi-NCR on Saturday.
Unfavourable meteorological conditions, including fog and haze, with low wind speed are the major causes behind this sudden spike in Delhi's daily average AQI, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for formulating strategies to combat pollution in the region, said.
Meanwhile, Centre on Friday ordered a ban on non-essential construction work and plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi-NCR amid worsening AQI in the region.
Gurgaon: Stringent measure in place to ensure law and order ahead of Christmas celebration
Gurgaon police have announced that stringent security measures have been put in place to ensure law and order in the city ahead of the Christmas celebration. To prevent any mischievous elements from causing unpleasant incidents, Gurgaon Police have implemented robust security arrangements at all event venues, including various identified locations, the police spokesperson said.
“Police personnel have been deployed in adequate numbers at all event venues, including various identified locations. Additionally, police officers in plain clothes have been assigned duties to monitor all activities. Traffic police personnel have also been deployed in adequate numbers to ensure smooth, organized, and uninterrupted traffic flow so that traffic is not affected or congested,” the spokesperson said.
International Gita Mahotsav inaugurated in Gurgaon
International Gita Mahotsav, a two-day festival organised by the Haryana government, was inaugurated by the Deputy Commissioner in Gurgaon on Friday. The festival was inaugurated at the Independence Fighter District Council Hall by DC Yadav who flagged it off by chanting mantras and participating in a yajna. Organised under the supervision of the district administration and the Information, Public Relations, Language, and Culture Department, this two-day religious festival highlighted the Hindu epic Bhagavad Gita and Haryana's folk traditions. The priest of the Sheetla Mata Temple in the city lit the pyre for ritual, followed by the Deputy Commissioner's offerings. Later, the DC inaugurated the festival by lighting lamps in the temple of Sheetla Mata and Lord Shri Krishna.
He said that the teachings of the Gita given by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna are still relevant today. Additional Labor Commissioner Kushal Katariya inaugurated the cultural programmes and said that along with reading the Gita, its teachings should be implemented in life.
GRAP stage 3 back in force as Delhi’s air quality nosedives to ‘severe’: Here’s what banned
With Delhi’s air quality deteriorating to the ‘severe’ category for the first time this month, a ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles kicked in Friday. A ban on construction and demolition activities was also imposed, except for certain projects like metro and railways, healthcare facilities and linear public projects like highways, roads, and flyovers.
Invoking measures under Stage III or the ‘severe’ category of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) Friday said that state governments in the NCR and the Delhi government must impose strict restrictions on plying of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel four wheelers in Delhi and in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.
Under this stage of GRAP, governments in the NCR may also decide on discontinuing physical classes for children up to class V and conducting online classes instead.
Delhi’s AQI on Friday was 418 at 6 pm, having deteriorated from 361 in the ‘very poor’ category at 4 pm on Thursday. While imposing restrictions, the CAQM attributed the deterioration to “unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions including fog and hazy conditions with low wind speed”.
25% of budget in education every year is investment, not expense for AAP govt: Atishi
Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Friday said the Arvind Kejriwal government makes a 25 per cent allocation in the budget for education every year and considers it an investment and not an expense.
Addressing the sixth convocation of the Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU) here, she said the institution's success has inspired other states to start programmes such as 'Yogshala'.
"Transformation of the DPSRU into the country's first pharmaceutical research university is a testament to the Kejriwal government's commitment to education. Investing 25 per cent of the budget in education every year is an investment for the Delhi government and not an expense," the minister said.
The convocation was also attended by Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena and former director general of the Indian Council of Medical Research Nirmal Ganguly.
Gurgaon: 2 new Covid cases reported this week
Gurgaon has reported two Covid-19 positive cases this week. The samples have been sent for genome sequencing to ascertain the variant.
While the first patient, a 58-year-old woman who tested positive earlier this week, had visited Indonesia, the second patient doesn't have travel history. The second patient tested positive on Friday and is a 42-year-old woman from sector 68. Both patients are in home isolation now.
Delhi AQI at 405; GRAP for 'severe' category kicks in
With the AQI in Delhi being 405, in the severe category at 3 pm, the Commission for Air Quality Management has invoked the severe category of the Graded Response Action Plan. With this, a ban on construction and demolition activities will kick in across the NCR, except for certain exempted projects including healthcare facilities, metro and railway projects.
Signature View Apartment residents get 3 more months to vacate premises
Following the MCD's 7 day eviction notice to Signature View Apartment residents, the Delhi High Court ruled that the residents have till 3 months time - till 31st March - to vacate the premises. The residents had moved the court against the DDA in November asking for a stay on the demolition and changes in the conditions set by the land authority. The changes range from demanding a one time cost for interior work to increasing interest on the buyback offer from 10.6% to 18%.
Delhi High Court stays special court’s order which directed supply of copy of FIR to Neelam Azad till January 4
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the order after Delhi Police argued that the special court did not follow proper procedure and the FIR contains sensitive details adding that the investigation is still ongoing.
Police said that as per the procedure and the directions passed by the Supreme Court, in sensitive cases, the accused first need to submit a representation the Police Commissioner with the request.
The Commissioner would then constitute a three member committee to decide whether the FIR is to be supplied or not.
In case the Committee decides that the FIR cannot be provided, only then the accused can approach the Court, the police said. The police said that no finding had been given on this pointand the special court proceeds to direct the police to give copy of FIR to neelam.
The High Court considered the arguments and ordered that the trial court's directions will be stayed till January 4, 2024.
the HC further issued notice to accused Neelam Azad.
Delhi liquor policy case: AAP MP Sanjay Singh's bail dismissed
A Delhi Court on Friday dismissed AAP MP Sanjay Singh's bail in the liquor excise policy case.
Cong prez Mallikarjun Kharge begins his address; calls PM Modi "overconfident"
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge began his address by questioning the goals of the opposition's INDIA alliance. "The alliance was for made because Modi and Shah are stern upon destroying this democracy in this country, " he said.
Kharge also said that Prime Minister Modi is being overconfident and that the INDIA alliance will not be silenced through the use of the Enforcement Directorate, or suspension of MPs.
Rahul Gandhi: You have not only suspended MPs, but silenced crores of people
At the rally, Gandhi said that by suspending the MPs, the government has silenced crores of people as every MP carries lakhs of votes and represent the people of the country.
Opposition MP suspension Jantar Mantar rally: Cong leader Rahul Gandhi blames Modi govt for parl security breach
Speaking at the rally being held at Jantar Mantar, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi blamed the Modi government for unemployment which eventually led to the parliament security breach.
Gandhi questioned how the youths who were able to enter the parliament were able to carry the gas canisters. “If they could have passed the security checks then they could have also carried anything else, how were they able to pas the security checks?” Gandhi questioned.
He further said, "The narendra Modi government has not given employment to youth, this is why they jumped and entered the parliament."
Cong MP Shashi Tharoor calls MP suspension "assault on our parliamentary democracy"
Opposition leaders join Jantar Mantar rally against MP suspension
Watch| Cong leader Rahul Gandhi arrives at Jantar Mantar to address rally
Opposition rally on MP suspension: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram compares Parliament action to Chinese, North Korean governance
The members of the Parl are suspended, this is not democracy: Cong leader Mohammed Azharuddin
Watch| Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses INDIA bloc rally at Jantar Mantar
Parliament Security breach case : Accused Lalit Jha sent to 14 day Police custody
Public Prosecutor Akhand Pratap Singh said that they asked for 14 days custody so that all the accused can be produced on the same day. Yesterday, four accused in the same matter were sent to 15 day police custody.
Watch| Delhi News Live Updates: INDIA alliance protest in New Delhi kicks off
Parliament security breach: Delhi police approaches HC, challenges supplying FIR copy to Neelam Azad
The Delhi police approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Trial Court order directing supply of copy of UAPA FIR to Neelam Azad, an accused in the parliament security breach case.
The matter was mentioned today before a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan who allowed it to be listed today.
Delhi News Live Updates: French President Macron set to be Republic Day chief guest
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, people familiar with the development said on Friday.
India had invited US President Joe Biden to grace the occasion but he expressed inability to travel to New Delhi in January.
French President Macron has been invited as the Republic Day chief guest, the people cited above said.
PTI reports.
Watch| Delhi weather today: Dense fogged enveloped the city this morning
In Pictures: BJP leaders hold dharna at Jantar Mantar against opposition
Step up COVID testing, wear masks in crowded areas: Delhi government amid surge in country-wide cases
Amid a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases across the country, the Delhi State Health Department has directed all government hospitals to ensure samples are collected from Influenza-like Illness (ILI) and Severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) patients and an adequate number sent for RT-PCR testing for Covid. Instructions have also been passed to perform genome sequencing of positive RT-PCR samples as per guidelines.
As on December 19, Delhi reported a positivity rate of 0.48 per cent; 208 RT-PCR tests were conducted on the day.
Know more.
Delhi government gets cracking after Supreme Court rap, forms new division to complete pending judicial projects
From dedicating one of its divisions for the purpose to posting senior engineers at the helm of such projects for completion, the Delhi government has gone into damage control mode after being rapped by the Supreme Court earlier this month for the “serious dearth of judicial infrastructure” in the capital.
On December 11, a Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra had termed the “inordinate delay” on part of the Delhi government in granting funds for infrastructure projects approved by the Delhi High Court “a matter of regret”. Some of these projects have been pending since 2019.
Write Jatin Anand and Apurva Vishwanath.
HC asks Centre to consider representation for linking property documents with Aadhaar
The Delhi High Court Thursday asked the Centre to consider a plea seeking linking of immovable and movable property documents of citizens with their Aadhaar numbers to curb corruption and benami transactions, as a representation, and decide the same in three months.
The plea moved by petitioner and advocate Ashwini Upadhyay states that it is the duty of the State to take appropriate steps to curb corruption and seize ‘benami’ properties amassed by illegal means.
Read full story.
Delhi Weather Update 🌥ï¸today: IMD forecast
Skies are most likely to be cloudy throughout the day with very light rain/drizzle at night in Delhi-NCR. The maximum temperate is expected to be around 23 degrees celsius, with minimum temperatures predicted to be near 5 degrees celsius.
INDIA members to hit the streets today to protest MPs’ suspension
The INDIA Alliance will take to the streets on Friday to protest against the suspension of Opposition MPs in an “undemocratic manner” with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other alliance MPs and leaders to address the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress launched the AICC’s crowdfunding ‘Donate for the Country’ campaign from its state headquarters at an event presided over by Delhi Congress president Arvinder Singh Lovely.
Continue reading.
Noida man tests positive for Covid, first case in several months
A Noida resident has tested positive for Covid, in a first case of the infection in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddh Nagar after several months, officials said on Thursday. The patient is a 54-year-old male who lives in Noida but works at a multinational company in Gurugram, Gautam Buddh Nagar Chief Medical Officer Dr Sunil Sharma said.
"His test sample has been sent to Delhi for genome sequencing. The result is awaited," Sharma said. District Surveillance Officer and public healthcare expert Dr Amit Kumar said the patient travelled to Nepal earlier this month and also went to work at his Gurugram office after returning.
"The patient is asymptomatic and went for the COVID-19 test on his own," Kumar said, adding that this is the only confirmed case in Gautam Buddh Nagar so far. CMO Sharma said testing for the virus had come down in the district this year.
People can get themselves tested for Covid at primary and community health centres here and the district hospital, he added. The healthcare department, meanwhile, urged residents to practise Covid-appropriate measures amid concerns over the infection spreading once again.
People should wash their hands with soap for a minute, practice social distancing, use alcohol-based sanitisers, wear face mask when outdoors, among other measures, Kumar said. PTI
Man’s body parts found in drain in Outer Delhi’s Nangloi-Najafgarh Road
Body parts of an unidentified man were recovered from an open drain on the Nangloi-Najafgarh Road early on Thursday, Delhi police said. The body parts were found in two polythene bags by locals while walking towards a drain to dump garbage, they added.
Police said they have only managed to recover a few body parts, adding they are conducting raids in the area to get further leads.
A call was made by a local man from Baprola Village around 9.27 am Thursday informing police about the open drain being filled with a long polythene bag containing suspected body parts, police said. The bag was transparent and open, they said. Read more
Club owner chased for 7 kilometers, beaten up, threatened with gunshots on car
A 36-year-old Gurugram-based club owner was chased for seven kilometres by a group of people, beaten up, and threatened with gunshots fired at his car in south Delhi's Fatehpur Beri area on Thursday morning, police said. The victim, identified as Sundar, received injuries in his head and his car several gunshots, they said.
According to a police officer, a PCR call was received at 8.53 am by one Rahul, who stated that his brother Sunder who runs a club in Gurugram was attacked by some people on his way back home in Delhi.
Police found a Hyundai Creta parked at a roadside with three bullet shots in its body. "Sundar had been taken to the AIIMS hospital as he received multiple injuries to his head and other body parts. He had not received any bullet wound," said an officer.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Chandan Chowdhary, Sundar had a financial dispute with some people, who are suspected to have chased him in cars from Gurugram's Gwal Pahari to Fatehpur Beri area. They first fired two shots at Sundar's car near Gwal Pahari and when he reached near Dera Mandi Road in Fatehpur Beri, they waylaid him and attacked him with rods and sticks.
The attackers fired three more shots at his car before leaving, said Chowdhary. The suspects have been identified and the teams have been formed to nab them, police said. PTI
Delhi govt to send Covid samples for RT-PCR test amid uptick in cases
The Delhi health department has ordered authorities to send an "adequate" number of Covid samples for RT-PCR test amid an uptick in coronavirus cases, officials said on Thursday. The department has also ordered them to conduct the genome sequencing of Covid-positive RT-PCR samples, they said.
India on Thursday recorded 594 fresh COVID-19 infections, which took the number of active cases from 2,311 the previous day, to 2,669, according to Union health ministry data.
A meeting was convened by the Delhi Health Minister to review the preparedness of health facilities to tackle ILI/SARI (influenza-like illness/severe acute respiratory infections) on Wednesday, officials said.
"Adequate number of Covid samples are to be sent for RT-PCR testing, as per guidelines. Genome sequencing of positive RT-PCR samples is to be performed, as per guidelines. And, measures are to be taken for raising community awareness for avoiding overcrowded and poorly ventilated settings, and wearing masks in crowded and close settings and in hospital premises," an official said.
The data on COVID-19 testing is presently being maintained by the Indian Council of Medical Research, which has been requested by the Delhi government to share it, the person said.
On Tuesday, the number of RT-PCR tests done in Kerala and Karnataka was 537 and 487, with positivity rate 20.75 per cent and 2.41 per cent, respectively, they said. In Delhi, the number of RT-PCR tests done and positivity on the same day was 208 and 0.48 per cent.
PTI
Delhi News Live Updates: Court permits parents of Parliament security breach accused to get copy of FIR
The Court of Hardeep Kaur allows parents of Neelam Azad, one of the accused in Parliament security breach to get a copy of the FIR. The Court also grants them permission to meet the accused.
Delhi News Live Updates: HC asks ECI to expedite decision on notice to Rahul Gandhi; What is ‘panauti’, the word used by Rahul Gandhi for PM Modi?
On November 21, after India’s World Cup loss, Gandhi said at a rally in Balotra, “Panauti… panauti…Achha bhalaa hamare ladke wahaan World Cup jeetne waale the, par panauti harwaa diya. TV waale ye nahin kahenge magar janta jaanti hai (Our boys were going to win the World Cup, but panauti got them defeated. TV channels will not say this but the public knows).”
The EC, in its notice, said that the use of “panauti” falls under the definition of corrupt practice, as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951, as attempts to make an elector believe that he or she “will become or will be rendered an object of divine displeasure or spiritual censure”. Read more
Delhi News Live Updates: DTC bus catches fire in Delhi's Ashram, no casualty
A DTC bus caught fire in south Delhi's Ashram area on Thursday, officials said.The fire officials said that they received information regarding the incident at 12.52 pm.
The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus caught fire in its rear portion, they said. The fire officials said that three fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames.
The fire was extinguished around 2 pm and no casualty was reported, they said. A transport department official said the bus that caught fire was a "cluster CNG bus", which was going from the IP Depot to Badarpur.
"It was a minor fire and there were 15 passengers in the bus at the time of the incident, but they did not sustain any injury. The bus has minor damages. We will inquire into the cause of the fire," the official added. PTI
Delhi News Live Updates: HC asks ECI to decide on notice sent to Rahul Gandhi within 8 weeks | Here's what the HC said
The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the Election Commission to take a decision in eight weeks on the notice sent to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his “pickpocket” remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Hearing a plea seeking action against Gandhi for making a speech on November 22 calling PM Modi a “pickpocket” and seeking directions for framing stricter laws on the issue, the high court remarked that it was not in the court’s domain to pass directions while also noting that the ECI is already seized of the matter.
“Lets leave it to the wisdom of the people who decide the results of elections. They are hearing everything,” the court said. In a complaint filed by the BJP to the ECI in November this year, the saffron party had accused Rahul of making “wild allegations” and speaking in a “derisive and obnoxious manner about the PM” during an election rally in Rajasthan.
ECI said that a notice was issued to Gandhi on Nov 23, however no response was recieved and deadline was submitting reply is over. The court said that though statements are not in good taste but since ECI is examining the matter the plea is disposed of.
Delhi News Live Updates: 16-year-old dies after falling from foot-over-bridge in Wazirabad
A 16-year-old boy died after he allegedly fell from a foot-over bridge on Wazirabad road in Delhi on Wednesday afternoon.
The police said the boy was leaning against the guardrail on the bridge but some portion of the guardrail was missing which caused the accident. The boy fell from a height of 6 metres, said the police.
He died on the spot. The Delhi Police said they are conducting an enquiry into the matter. Read more
Sanjay Singh remaded to judicial custody till January 10
In hearing for his chargesheet in the excise policy case, Delhi's Rose Avenue Court has remanded AAP's Sanjay Singh to judicial custody till January 10. Judge MK Nagpal directed the Enforcement Directorate to supply all copies (along with the fifth chargesheet) to the accused by Saturday.
The judge will decide on Sanjay Singh's bail plea by 4:00 PM today.
Parliament security breach case: Delhi police produce 4 accused before court
The Delhi Police on Thursday produced four accused arrested in the Parliament security breach case before a court here on expiry of their seven-day police custody.
The accused- Manoranjan D, Sagar Sharma, Amol Dhanraj Shinde and Neelam Devi-? were produced before Special Judge Hardeep Kaur.
The court is likely to take up the matter shortly.
In a major security breach on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament terror attack on December 13, two of them- Sagar Sharma and Manoranjan D- jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery during Zero Hour, released yellow gas from canisters and shouted slogans before being overpowered by some MPs.
Around the same time, two others- Amol Shinde and Neelam Devi- also sprayed coloured gas from canisters while shouting "tanashahi nahi chalegi" outside the Parliament House premises. (PTI)
Fire at Gopaldas Bhawan, 15 fire tenders at the spot
A fire broke inside the Gopaldas Bhawan building in Connaught Place. Fire officials said a total of 15 fire tenders rushed to the spot.
Delhi HC issues notice to Jacqueline Fernandez’s over plea against ED complaint in money laundering case
he Delhi HC has issued notice on actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea seeking quashing of ED’s ECIR and second supplementary complaint in the 200 cr money laundering case involving Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The HC has called for ED’s response and listed the matter on January 29, 2024. Fernandez has alleged that she was duped by Sukesh and had no indication that she had any involvement whatsover in aiding him to launder his purportedly ill gotten wealth.
Kejriwal questions timing of ED summons, calls them ‘sensational news making’
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal responded to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summons in the Delhi excise policy case on Thursday, saying that their timing ‘strengthens his belief that the summons are purely propaganda and sensational news making ahead of Parliamentary Elections in the country.’ Kejriwal was served summons on 18 December, a day before he was to depart for a Vipassana meditation retreat.
In a letter to the ED Director, he termed the summons illegal.