Kejriwal had also said that he was on the brink of being arrested in the liquor policy case as part of a BJP conspiracy to topple the AAP government in Delhi. (PTI Photo)Delhi News Live Updates (January 30, 2024): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday filed a formal complaint against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal following his allegations last week that the BJP was trying to poach Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs. The AAP is yet to issue a response on the matter. Kejriwal had on Saturday alleged that he was on the brink of being arrested in the liquor policy case as part of a BJP conspiracy to topple the AAP government in Delhi and that the BJP was also attempting to contact AAP MLAs, urging them to switch sides in lieu of cash of up to Rs 25 crore.
Meanwhile, dense fog prevailed over Delhi on Tuesday, with flight and train operations being affected as the visibility dropped to 50 metres at 5:30 am. According to the Indian Railways, 19 trains to-and-fro Delhi were running late due to operational reasons and fog conditions in parts of North India, news agency ANI reported.
A day earlier, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal announced a ‘New Solar Policy 2024’ on Monday, till now the solar policy introduced in 2016 was in force. During the announcement, Arvind Kejriwal claimed, “Residential areas will get zero bills.” However, this policy is not only for residents but also for commercial purposes. Kejriwal said, “Under this policy if people install solar panels on their rooftops, they will get zero bills. You can use 200 units, 400,500 units of electricity with the help of solar power.”
Delhi New Highlights: YEIDA okays detailed project report of Mathura Heritage City | Follow this space for the latest news updates from in and around Delhi-NCR!
Serial offender among 4 held for snatching phone in Gurgaon
A complaint from a student about two unknown men on a scooter snatching her phone led police to a serial offender with 16 criminal cases against him.
Police said, “On Thursday, a student filed a complaint stating that on January 23, around 2 pm, two men on a scooter snatched her phone at Sector 7 extension, Aacharyapuri Road, and fled.”
On Friday, four men — Deepanshu alias Gappu (20), Harsh alias Piyush (19), Anil alias Nanhe (30), and Krishna (21) — were arrested in the case.

If BJP loses in 2024, it will ‘become like Donald Trump’, says Kejriwal after Chandigarh mayoral polls results
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would become like former US President Donald Trump “and stick to the seat of power even if martial law needs to be imposed”, in case they lose the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for later this year.
Kejriwal was addressing a press conference in Delhi after Manoj Sonkar, BJP candidate won the Mayoral election in Chandigarh, defeating the AAP-Congress candidate.
Alleging a ‘pre-planned conspiracy’, Kejriwal said, “The cameras have caught the story behind a pre-planned conspiracy to accomplish what has happened today in Chandigarh. Today’s poll shows to what extent they can go to win an election,” referring to eight votes being declared invalid by the presiding officer. Read more here
Boney Kapoor-backed firm wins bid for Film City Project near upcoming Noida airport
The firm backed by producer Boney Kapoor on Tuesday won the bid for the development of an International Film City near the upcoming Noida Airport. The Uttar Pradesh government's ambitious Film City Project is proposed to be developed in an area of 230 acres in the first phase. Firms backed by Actor Akshay Kumar and music company T-Series were among the four finalists for the project.
Indigo pilots removed as DGCA investigates whether Delhi-Baku flight took off without ATC clearance
The pilots of Indigo's January 29, 2024 Delhi - Baku flight (6E 1803) were on Tuesday removed from flying duty for allegedly taking off without Air Traffic Control (ATC) clearance. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently investigating the matter. "With reference to reports around IndiGo flight 6E 1803 operating between Delhi and Baku on Jan 28, 2024, the incident is currently under investigation and, appropriate action will be taken as necessary," IndiGo airlines said in a statement. (ANI inputs)
Air India crew member murder: Noida police arrests another suspect after gunfight
The Noida police on Tuesday morning took into custody another suspect who was allegedly involved in the murder of an Air India crew member after a gunfight, taking the total number of arrests made in the case to five, news agency PTI reported.
Fifteen years ago, a dispute over a 100-yard wall between two families in Delhi’s Kheda Khurd village in Narela morphed into a 15-year-long violent rivalry between the Parvesh Mann and Kapil Mann gangs and claimed several lives on both sides. The latest victim, the fifth such killing, was Parvesh’s brother, Suraj.
On Friday, Suraj was shot dead in broad daylight at an upscale market in Noida’s Sector 104 — he had finished his workout at Anytime Fitness gym and was sitting in his car when three men on a bike pumped bullets into him. Police said the murder was orchestrated by gangster Kapil alias Kallu as revenge for Parvesh killing his father. Read here
32-year-old man assaulted in Outer Delhi's Narela
A 32-year-old man was assaulted by multiple persons in Outer Delhi's Narela over a property dispute between him and the alleged parties, on Friday.
A case of assault has been lodged and accused are absconding.
Delhi CM targets BJP, calls Chandigarh mayoral poll results 'very worrying'
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday attributed the results of the Chandigarh mayoral polls, where BJP won the post, a result of “dishonesty”. Targeting BJP and calling the results “very worrying”, he said, “The manner in which cheating has been done in broad daylight in the Chandigarh Mayor elections is extremely worrying. If these people can stoop so low in a mayor's election, then they can go to any extent in the country's elections. This is very worrying.”
Delhi HC directed trial court to decide Sharjeel Imam's bail plea in 10 days in UAPA case
The Delhi High Court has directed the trial court to decide Sharjeel Imam’s bail plea in 10 days from the next date of hearing before the trial court, which is, February 7.
Imam, booked in 2020 under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and sedition among other offences, had moved the trial court seeking statutory bail for completing half of the maximum sentence of seven years for the offences committed by him.
He was booked for sedition by Delhi Police’s Special Branch in 2020 for allegedly making inflammatory speeches at Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Later, Section 13 of the UAPA was invoked against him.
ED intimates Dehi Police to look for Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren
The Enforcement Directorate Tuesday intimated the Delhi Police regarding the whereabouts of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, after he was missing from his official residence in the national capital.
The ED has asked its senior officers to convey to district-level staff to strengthen and install more pickets at border points and keep overall surveillance in light of his absence.
This comes a day after a team of ED visited the South Delhi residence of Soren Monday to question him in the case, but he was not present at his home.
Read more here.
Watch | Dense fog engulfs the national capital
Dense fog engulfed the national capital of Delhi Tuesday morning. The India Meteorological Department predicted 'moderate fog' conditions tomorrow.
Flight, train operations affected as dense fog prevails over Delhi, visibility drops to 50 metres
Dense fog prevailed over Delhi on Tuesday, with flight and train operations being affected as the visibility dropped to 50 metres at 5:30 am.
According to the Indian Railways, 19 trains to-and-fro Delhi were running late due to operational reasons and fog conditions in parts of North India, news agency ANI reported.
At Delhi airport, 53 flights were delayed and four were cancelled at arrival. About 172 flights were delayed and five were cancelled at departure.
Man stabs woman, dumps body on railway tracks; held
A woman in her late 20s was stabbed all over her body and her throat slit by a man she had befriended, who later dumped her body near Delhi's Shakur Basti railway tracks, officers said on Monday.
Jimmy Chiram, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) (Outer) said that on January 25, a body of a woman aged around 25-to-30 years having her neck slit and over 20 cut injuries on her body, was found lying near the railway tracks of Shakur Basti. A blood-stained broken knife and a blood-stained shaving blade were recovered from the spot.
On the basis of technical and local information, the suspected, who was later identified as Pandav Kumar, was arrested. During the questioning, the accused disclosed that he is a school dropout and belonged to a poor family. He was employed as a labourer in Delhi and was friends with the deceased for the last one-and-half-years. "He met the deceased in his native village i.e., Bihar... for the last few months, he had suspicion that she was seeing other men and was ignoring him, due to which he decided to kill her and purchased two knives from a local vendor at Rani Bagh market to execute his plan," said the officer.
On January 24, he called the victim to Budh Vihar Nala and allured the deceased to live together in a rented accommodation, and when she denied, he took her to the railway yard and killed her with a knife. "He attacked her several times due to which she got injured and fell down, later she died and fled away from the spot as part of his plan," said the officer.
Silver to Gold — Why Delhi Metro changed the colour code of this much awaited line
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Monday announced a change to the colour scheme of its upcoming Delhi Aerocity – Tughlakabad Metro corridor. The Phase 4 corridor, originally designated with a ‘silver’ code, will now sport a ‘golden’ colour instead.
The decision to shift from silver to golden comes as a measure to ensure better identification of the colour on the metro trains. DMRC officials noted that the silver colour tended to blend with the stainless steel body of the trains, which could potentially cause confusion for passengers. By opting for a golden shade, the corporation aims to enhance visibility for commuters.
Read more here.
Delhi's AQI set to turn 'severe', Centre holds off implementing stricter pollution control curbs
The Centre on Monday refrained from implementing stricter measures to curb pollution in Delhi-NCR, even though air quality in the region is predicted to turn 'severe' on January 30. This is the third time since January 24 that the central government has decided against employing disruptive measures to control air pollution.
The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 356 at 4 pm on Monday. It is likely to deteriorate to the 'severe' category (AQI above 400) on Tuesday, according to the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.
If the AQI breaches the 400-mark, authorities in Delhi-NCR are required to invoke stricter curbs under Stage III of the Centre's Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to control air pollution. (PTI)
Delhi Government announced ‘New Solar Policy 2024’
The Delhi Government on Monday announced 'New Solar Policy 2024', till now the solar policy introduced in 2016 was in force. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "A solar portal is being made where all the information related to solar power, panels and other facilities offered by the govt will be available. I appeal to the public to avail this facility at a large level."
He said that the Delhi Government is also talking with a few companies to study and assess the number of rooftop panels installed in Delhi using satellite technology. During the announcement, Kejriwal said, "This is not only for residents but also commercial purposes. Residential areas will get zero bills....and Commercial bills will see half the bill."
Further talking about the solar policy, he said that people will need not to submit any documents for the process. "It is a very hassle-free exercise...they just have to select one of the authorised vendors and get the solar panel installed on rooftops. After that discoms will install net metering...you can generate electricity and use it for free and the extra that you will get money for the extra electricity you will generate," he said lastly.
MHA approves transfer order of IAS officers of AGMUT cadre
In a recent order by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it said, "With the approval of Competent Authority, the posting of the following IAS officers of AGMUT Cadre are ordered with immediate effect." Senior 1994-batch IAS officer Navin Kumar Choudhary is among 3 officials to be transferred to senior positions; Choudhary transferred to Delhi and is likely to be posted in a senior position.
Delhi BJP to approach police against AAP's MLA poaching allegation
The BJP will lodge a police complaint against the allegation that the saffron party was trying to poach seven AAP MLAs, made by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said on Monday.
Sachdeva said that a delegation of BJP lawmakers led by Leader of Opposition Ramvir Bidhuri will meet Delhi Police Commissioner on Tuesday and file a complaint with him to launch an impartial probe into the allegations. "The AAP and Kejriwal should also help us by giving an affidavit that their MLAs were being poached by the BJP," Sachdeva said.
Kejriwal, as well as several Aam Aadmi Party leaders had last week claimed that the BJP was trying to break off MLAs of the party by offering them money and election tickets.
Kejriwal had charged that seven AAP MLAs were contacted and offered Rs 25 crore each to defect. He had also alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to arrest him in the alleged liquor scam and topple his government in Delhi. (PTI)
Delhi court extends judicial custody of NewsClick’s Prabir Purkayastha, Amit Chakravarty in UAPA case
A Delhi court on Monday extended the judicial custody of NewsClick founder-editor Prabir Purkayastha and HR head Amit Chakravarty till February 17.
The two were arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on October 3 for allegedly receiving illegal funding from China, routed through the United States.
The special cell had registered an FIR in this case in August under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The duo was sent to a month-long judicial custody in November 2023.
22-year-old man arrested for unauthorisedly scaling IGI airport wall
A 22-year-old man was arrested Monday and sent to judicial custody for unauthorisedly scaling the perimeter wall of IGI airport in a state of intoxication on January 27, the Delhi Police said.
Fog prevails over Delhi, parts of North India; visibility drops to 200 metres
A layer of fog is persisting over parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, North Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar & extreme northwest Madhya Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Visibility in Delhi's Palam and Safdarjung early in the morning was recorded to be 200, and 500 metres, respectively.
Fire breaks out at police malkhana in Wazirabad training centre, vehicles burnt
A fire broke out inside a police malkhana at Wazirabad police training centre where almost 250 two-wheelers and 200 four wheelers got burnt in the blaze.
CISF SI saves life of French national at Delhi's IGI airport
A 63-year-old French national, who fell unconscious at the Indira Gandhi International airport here, was saved by a CISF personnel by performing the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) procedure on him, a force spokesperson said on Sunday.
The incident took place around noon on January 26 when passenger Bertrand Patrick had queued up for security check as he was scheduled to take an Air Vistara flight to Paris, he said.
The passenger fell unconscious in the security-hold area and CISF Sub-Inspector Puneet Kumar Tiwari, working on the x-ray scanner nearby, rushed to him and performed CPR on him, following which he regained consciousness. A doctor stationed at the IGI was called and he administered initial treatment to the passenger, the spokesperson said.
The French man soon regained consciousness and showed signs of improvement and the doctor declared him fit to continue his journey, he said. "Due to alertness and prompt action by the CISF personnel, a precious life was saved," the official said. (PTI)
Noida film city project: Firms backed by Akshay Kumar, Boney Kapoor, T-series qualify for final round
Firms backed by actor Akshay Kumar and producer Boney Kapoor and T-Series are among the four companies qualified in the financial evaluation as prospective developers for the Film City Project near the upcoming Noida International Airport.
Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) on Saturday said four companies — M/s. Bayview Projects LLP, 04 Lions Films Private Limited, M/s. Supersonic Technobuild Private Limited and M/s. Super Cassettes Industries Private Limited (T series) — made a presentation for the project and they have been found technically qualified for the final stage of the selection process, which is a financial bid.
Read more.
Dehi Police arrest teenager for throwing chemical substance on a girl
A teenager has been apprehended for allegedly throwing a chemical substance (suspected to be caustic soda) on a girl (a school student) in North Delhi's Burari last week. The accused followed the school girl who was walking with her brother and threw the chemical on her. According to police, the girl didn't suffer any major burn injuries and is currently in stable condition.
"I am still thankful to Kalka Maa that no major accident happened": Area Counselor Yogita Singh
Area Counselor Yogita Singh said, it is very shocking and saddening that a woman died and 17 people were injured. Lakhs of people visit Kalka Maa temple every day and it is very difficult to stop people. It is very unfortunate but I am still thankful to Kalka Maa that no major accident happened. I also visited the temple yesterday around 6-6.30 pm....there were popular singers, so the crowd had increased....but both organisers as well as police, temple management and us need to be careful in future and need to put a stop, if there is no space....mistake happened this time but we have to be careful in future, so this does not happen again..."
Mahant Surendranath Avadhoot Peethadheeshwar's comment on Kalkaji Temple jagran incident
The Jagran was organised by Shri Kalkaji Seva Mitra Mandal. The event is organised every year around or a day after Republic Day to pray for peace and fortune. The organisers hold the Puja path for 51 days, with a big pandal, small Puja, Bhajan for 50 days and on the last day, a jagran at a big level is organised every year. The event has been happening for the last 15-20 years.
"Some big singers were called this year like Praak and Kanhaiya Mittal... there were three stages...one stage where the families of organisers were sitting collapsed, after a large number of visitors reached there to see Praak. The stage could handle only 15-20 people but 80-100 people arrived and the stage collapsed, " said a security worker at the temple.
He said, " I live here in the temple with my family. We also came to watch but it happened so fast, we all got scared. But, I managed to help 7-8 people....Mostly, people who were standing very close to the stage or standing on the edge a step nearby were injured. My son who was with me got scared....he did not sleep the entire night."
‘First time I’ve seen something like this’: B Praak after stage collapses during event at Delhi’s Kalkaji temple
The stage at a religious event in Southeast Delhi’s Kalkaji Mandir, where singer B Praak was performing, collapsed on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring at least 17.
Reacting to the incident, B Praak, via a post on Instagram, said: “This is the first time I’ve seen something like this happen before my eyes… where I was performing and I’m deeply saddened by it. What happened at Shri Kalkaji Mandir is extremely unfortunate… I hope all the injured persons recover soon and are all fine.”
He added, “I would like to say that management at such events is very necessary. The authorities urged everyone to maintain order and asked everyone to stand far (from the stage). I understand it (gathering) was your love for Maa and me. However, we must be careful from next time. We must take care of children and the elderly…”. Continue reading...
In Pics: Stage collapses at Delhi's Kalkaji mandir during jagran
Delhi CM Kejriwal reacts to the Kalkaji stage collapse incident
Man stabbed, shot at by 4 drinking partners in busy Northeast Delhi market
A 25-year-old man was allegedly attacked with a knife and shot at by four other men in a crowded market in Northeast Delhi’s Shastri Park on Friday.
A video of the incident has gone viral, showing the accused holding the victim in the middle of the market and stabbing him several times in the back before he falls on the ground.
The incident occurred at around 8.30 pm, said DCP (Northeast) Joy Tirkey, identifying the victim as Sameer Ahmad, who manufactures bags.
Watch | Delhi's Kalkaji mandir stage collapses during event
Stage collapses during religious event in Southeast Delhi; 1 dead, several injured
The stage at a religious event in Southeast Delhi’s Kalkaji Mandir collapsed on Saturday night, killing one person and injuring at least 17.
The police said that the organisers had not taken permission for the event and called over 1,500-1,700 people.
Videos from the event showed a damaged central stage with people trapped under it. Other attendees were seen running around amid screams of help from others.
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