Delhi News Live Updates: BJP veteran VK Malhotra cremated with state honours

“We won’t stop the strike until we’re handed an official order stating that our demands will be fulfilled,” said Madan Pal, president of the Anti-Malaria Ekta Karmachari Union.

Since Monday, Multi-Tasking Staff of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), which includes Domestic [Mosquito] Breeding Checkers (DBC), and Contractual Field Worker (CFW), have been on an indefinite protest and hunger strike.

They are seeking standardised pay, permanent status for workers — some of whom have been working for decades — equal and standardised pay, medical and earned leaves, and jobs for family members of deceased employees.

Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said the demands are being vetted as per the laws. “We are planning how the leaves can be scheduled. I’m in constant talks with the officials to address the demands raised,” he said.

The repair and desilting of sewerage and drainage networks in Gurgaon will begin by December 31 and will be completed by April 2026 to address waterlogging in the city before the next monsoon, Gurugram Municipal Corporation Commissioner Pradeep Dahiya said on Wednesday.

Large parts of Gurgaon were inundated in this year’s unusually heavy monsoon rain, causing severe disruption of daily life.

Dahiya assessed the situation in 40 areas affected by sewage overflow issues at a review meeting of the Sewage Management Cell on Monday.

At Delhi’s railway stations, crimes increased by 59% in 2023 as compared to the previous year — with thefts making up a chunk of them.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) recorded a total of 5,176 cases, according to the latest data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Of these, thefts accounted for 4,813 incidents.

Delhi has seven GRP stations operating across the premises of 46 railway stations.

According to data, a total of 2,332 cases were registered in 2021, which increased to 3,243 in 2022.

Delhi’s Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) has been able to forecast high-pollution days with more than 80 per cent accuracy, but its reliance on outdated emission inventories and the tendency to underpredict pollutant levels limit its effectiveness, a study by the public policy think tank Council on Energy, Environment, and Water (CEEW) has found.

The system correctly forecast 83 out of the 92 “very poor and above” days in the winter of 2023-24, and 54 out of 58 such days in 2024-25, says the study, titled ‘How Well Can Delhi Predict Air Quality?’. ‘Very poor and above’ days are those on which the air quality index (AQI) is more than 300.

Two first-year students from Kerala, studying at Delhi University’s Zakir Husain Delhi College, were allegedly accused of theft and beaten up near Red Fort last week, with some police officers also purportedly involved.

Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has written to Delhi Police Commissioner Satish Golcha demanding a probe into what he called “an inhuman attack, custodial assault and cultural humiliation” of the two. Police said an inquiry has been ordered into their allegations.

In his letter, Brittas said the students – identified as Aswanth I T and Sudhin K – were accosted by a group of miscreants on September 24 and falsely accused of theft. “Instead of extending protection, the policemen colluded with the mob… the students were dragged, beaten with fibre lathis, stomped upon, stripped and humiliated in the most degrading manner,” the letter alleged.

Delhi is likely to receive light rain tomorrow, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said. The latest bulletin from the IMD, forecasting the Delhi weather, read: “Generally cloudy sky. One or two spells of very light to light rain/drizzle accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning towards afternoon/evening.” The temperature is likely to range from 24 degrees Celsius to 35 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

Two alleged criminals were nabbed following a brief exchange of fire near Sanjay Van in Southwest Delhi on Wednesday morning. One of the accused, Arman, 26, was injured after the bullet hit his right leg, police said.

On being intercepted, the criminals allegedly opened fire at the police party while trying to escape. The police team, in self defence, retaliated.

The police said the men were wanted in a firing case linked to an extortion registered at Chhawla police station earlier this week.

BJP stalwart Vijay Kumar Malhotra has been cremated with state honours at Delhi's Nigambodh Ghat.

A Zomato delivery agent was allegedly abused by a drunk teacher and his friend after he asked for the payment for the delivered food, Delhi Police said on Wednesday. The teacher, however, accused the police and the delivery agent of beating him up after he refused to pay the extra money demanded by him.

The incident came to light when a video on social media showed a delivery agent and two policemen dragging Rishi Kumar from his flat in the Narela area of Outer North Delhi.

According to the police, when the Narela police station received a call from Arjun, he reported that two people in an inebriated state had ordered food, and then at the time of the delivery ,forcibly took the food without paying the money. They also abused him, Hareshwar Swami, DCP, Outer North, said.

Bareilly Police arrested two more associates of Ittehad-e-Millat Council president Tauqeer Raza Khan following a shootout in Fatehganj Pashchimi Wednesday morning.

Maulana Tauqeer Raza, who has been accused of “masterminding” the violence that erupted after Friday prayers in Bareilly on September 26, was arrested on Sunday.

Superintendent of Police, Bareilly, Anurag Arya said that the arrested men have been identified as Mohd Idris alias Bora (50) and Iqbal alias Bundan Khan (48), both residents of Shahjahanpur. “They sustained injuries in the encounter, following which they were admitted to the hospital,” said Arya.

A man on the run for 12 years after allegedly looting his employer in Delhi’s Kirti Nagar has been caught in Rajasthan, reported PTI. Gautam Yadav (32) from Bihar’s Jamui district is a proclaimed offender carrying a reward of Rs 20,000. He was arrested in Jaipur on September 30.

According to news agency PTI, Yadav, then employed as a domestic help, and three others robbed his employer in 2013, tying her up and fleeing with gold jewellery. While two of his associates were arrested earlier, Yadav evaded capture by frequently changing locations and taking up odd jobs across states before settling in Rajasthan.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned a $299 million loan as the final installment for the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Investment Project. The project is a flagship urban transport initiative in the National Capital Region (NCR).

With this fourth tranche, ADB’s total support under the multi-tranche financing facility approved in 2020 now stands at $1.05 billion. The 82-kilometer Delhi–Meerut RRTS is the first of three priority corridors planned for the NCR, designed to transform regional mobility by cutting travel time between Delhi and Meerut from more than three hours to just one.

As of August 2025, 55 kilometers of the corridor are operational, linking 11 stations from New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Meerut South.

Delhi Traffic Police on Wednesday announced that Rajendra Prasad Road will now allow vehicles to move only in one direction to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow.

As per an order issued by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Shive Keshari Singh, vehicles will be permitted to ply only from Jaswant Singh roundabout towards the Rajendra Prasad Road–Janpath Road roundabout. The restriction applies to all categories of motor vehicles, reported news agency PTI.

The DCP said the decision was taken to address the persistent problem of heavy traffic on the stretch. Signboards have been put up to guide motorists about the new arrangement.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra's mortal remains are being taken to Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi for the cremation. Several BJP leaders are there to pay tibutes.

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta pays tribute to BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra. "His demise is an irreparable loss for the residents of Delhi and the Delhi BJP family. His entire life, filled with simplicity, service, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to the organization, served as a living example of Indian politics and organizational work style. As the first president of the Delhi state of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he laid the foundation of the organization on the basis of ideology, integrity, and values. Along with uniting the workers, he instilled confidence in them and gave the organization the form of a family," she says.

आज पंडित पंत मार्ग स्थित दिल्ली भाजपा कार्यालय में हम सभी कार्यकर्ताओं के प्रेरणास्रोत एवं संरक्षक श्रद्धेय प्रो. विजय कुमार मल्होत्रा जी को भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की।

उनका निधन दिल्लीवासियों एवं दिल्ली भाजपा परिवार के लिए एक अपूरणीय क्षति है। सादगी, सेवा, त्याग और संगठन के… pic.twitter.com/vMPqLvZroq

— Rekha Gupta (@gupta_rekha) October 1, 2025

The mortal remains of BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra were placed at the Delhi unit office of the party on Wednesday for people to pay their last respects, news agency PTI reported.

Party's Delhi president, Virendra Sachdeva, other leaders, and a large number of workers gathered at the office.

Malhotra's body was carried from Rakabganj Road, where he lived, in a hearse to the party's office on Pandit Pant Marg, as per the PTI report.

The former MP will be cremated at Lodhi Road crematorium at 3 PM today. (PTI)

Speaking at the RSS centenary celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Tomorrow is Vijayadashmi, a festival which symbolises the victory of good over evil, victory of justice over injustice, victory of truth over falsehoods, and victory of light over darkness…"

Releasing a coin to commemorate 100 years of the RSS, Modi said, “This is the first time in the history of India that Bharat Mata’s image has been carved onto a coin."

The coin also has the RSS’ motto “Rashtray Swaha, Idam Rashtraya, Idam Na Mama”, which translates to “Everything is dedicated to the nation, Everyhting is the nation’s, Nothing is mine”.

Speaking at the RSS centenary celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Since its inception, the RSS has been striving to build the nation… During the struggle for Independence, [RSS founder] Dr [KB] Hedgewar went to jail and along with him, many members of the organisation."

He said the RSS participated in the freedom movement and sheltered many freedom fighters.

He said that during the Chimur (Maharashtra) agitation of 1942, RSS swayamsevaks suffered at the hands of the British. “Again after Independence, RSS suffered at the hands of the Nizams of Hyderabad. RSS also sacrificed during the Independence of Goa and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. But RSS was steady on its belief: ‘Nation first’ and aim of ‘Ek Bharat, sreshth Bharat’.”

At the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday hailed the organisation's contributions towards the nation, saying that it has, since its founding, "focused on nation-building."

"RSS believes in 'One India, Great India', yet post-Independence, attempts were made to prevent it from joining the national mainstream," he alleged.

"RSS works in different sections of society; but there are never contradictions among them as they work on principle of nation-first," he said in his speech.

Speaking at the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that its establishment on Dussehra was "not just a coincidence," and that the generation was "fortunate to be witnessing centenary of the Sangh."

"RSS' glorious 100-year journey an extraordinary example of sacrifice, selfless service, nation-building, and discipline,"

"The establishment of RSS on Dussehra 100 years ago was not just a coincidence. This was a resurrection of a tradition which was continuing since thousands of years. Our generation of 'swayamsevaks' is fortunate to be witnessing centenary of the Sangh."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday released a specially-designed commemorative postage stamp and a coin highlighting the contributions of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to the nation at a programme in Delhi to mark its 100 years.

The Delhi government has declared a one-day state mourning in BJP veteran Vijay Kumar Malhotra’s honour on Wednesday, who passed away a day earlier at his Delhi residence.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that the state government would ensure that his last rites are conducted with full honours.

Leaders across the political divide in Delhi were on the same page on Tuesday as they condoled Malhotra’s death.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) Wednesday has forecast generally cloudy skies, and a spell of very light to light rain for the day.

Even in the post monsoon season, the Capital saw heavy downpour on Tuesday due the influence of low pressure systems in the neighbouring regions.

The minimum temperature is likely to be 22.8 degrees Celsius — six degrees below the season’s normal.

Promising a career as an airhostess, Swami Chaitanyananda Saraswati allegedly initiated online chats with young aspirants and then sent them obscene messages, officers investigating harassment claims against him have found. The police reportedly recovered photos of air hostesses and screenshots of display pictures of several young women from his phone. Officers said the accused showed no sign of remorse and has been constantly lying.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi performed aarti at the Durga Puja pandal at Chittaranjan Park’s Kali Mandir on Maha Ashtami on Tuesday.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is set to introduce a new e-Arrival Card facility starting Wednesday, aiming to simplify the entry process for international passengers.

With this provision, launched under the aegis of the Bureau of Immigration by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which operates IGIA, foreign travellers arriving at the airport will no longer need to fill out paper-based arrival forms.

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Heavy rainfall in Delhi may have damaged the Ravana effigies prepared for the upcoming Dussehra festival.

Heavy rainfall in Delhi may have damaged the Ravana effigies prepared for the upcoming Dussehra festival. (Express Photos/Renuka Puri)

Visuals of rainfall in New Delhi as IMD issues orange alert in the National Capital (Express Photos/Amit Mehra)