The Special Cell of Delhi Police has arrested a suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) handler, Shabir Ahmed Lone, from the Ghazipur area, officials said on Monday. Terming Lone as a “hardcore and highly trained terrorist,” the officials said that he reportedly established links with handlers operating on behalf of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Following his arrest he was presented before a court in Delhi which sent him to five days of police custody. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 March,2026 09:12 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesTamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Monday filed his nomination from Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai for the April 13 election. After filing his papers, Stalin expressed full confidence that people would hand him a spectacular victory for the fourth time in a row in the Kolathur segment. Stalin had successfully contested polls from Kolathur constituency in 2011, 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 March,2026 09:09 AM IST | Chennai | AgenciesRegistrar General of India and Census Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan on Monday advised citizens to give accurate information to Census enumerators, asserting that the individual data will remain confidential and cannot be used as evidence or to get benefit under any scheme. Addressing a press conference, as the first phase of the country’s 16th Census is all set to begin in April in some states, including Delhi, the commissioner said under Section 15 of the Census Act, all individual data remains confidential. The Census will be conducted in Delhi from April 16 to May 15. Meanwhile, the government has notified 33 questions that will be put to citizens during the first phase of the Census houselisting and housing enumeration, starting April 1, 2026. Questions such as the material used in house flooring and roof, number of married couples living there, sex of the head of the household, access to basic and modern necessities, and types of vehicles owned shall be put forth. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 March,2026 09:01 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesSix people were rescued after a fire broke out in a multi-storey residential building in Mukherjee Nagar in northwest Delhi. The fire broke out on Sunday night behind the Batra Cinema in Rana Nagar, a Delhi Fire Services (DFS) official said. A call regarding the fire was received at 9.43 pm, following which multiple fire tenders were rushed to the spot, the official said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
31 March,2026 08:52 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesAmid the escalating LPG crisis, ten persons on Monday were arrested for allegedly selling commercial gas cylinders in Hyderabad at exorbitant rates. The police officials said that a total of 414 cylinders were seized from their possession. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Task Force) Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath said in a release that, based on credible information, the Commissioner's Task Force apprehended 10 persons who were illegally selling the gas cylinders to needy customers at a high rate. Police further said that the prime accused was running a gas agency, and it was found that he had been illegally dumping gas cylinders in Banjara Hills, with the help of labourers, in violation of the prescribed rules and regulations. 414 gas cylinders seized in Hyderabad Further, the accused has been selling these gas cylinders to customers at inflated prices, thereby exploiting the public for wrongful gain, police added. A total of 414 gas cylinders (213 full and 201 empty), besides 11 vehicles, were seized from the possession of the accused, police added. Mumbai Police book hotel owner, manager for illegal use of domestic LPG cylinders In a different scenario in Mumbai, Mumbai Police have booked a hotel owner and his manager for alleged illegal use of domestic LPG cylinders, officials said, reported the PTI. According to the police, an FIR has been registered against two individuals for allegedly storing and using domestic LPG cylinders for commercial purposes at a hotel in Kalbadevi. The LT Marg Police said that the suspects who have been identified as Harish Mehta and Prakash Purohit have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Essential Commodities Act, the news agency reported. The matter came to light after a rationing officer conducted a raid at Laxmi Vilas Hindu Hotel. During the inspection, officials found that domestic LPG cylinders, meant for household use, were being used in the hotel kitchen without proper authorisation or licence. Police said that one empty cylinder was recovered from the premises, while another filled cylinder had already been seized earlier and deposited at the police station. Manager and owner booked The hotel manager, identified as Prakash Hansaram Purohit (28), failed to produce valid documents for the use of the cylinders. The hotel owner, Harish Mehta, has also been named in the case for alleged involvement.
30 March,2026 08:53 PM IST | Hyderabad | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Monday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks, stating that India has always "transformed crises into opportunities through unity". Speaking to the media on Monday, Milind Deora said the Prime Minister's message reflects the country's strength in facing challenges collectively. He further said, "India has always transformed crises into opportunities through its unity. This is the very message that PM Narendra Modi has conveyed to the nation," as cited by ANI. Deora further urged the Opposition to adopt a constructive approach instead of politicising sensitive matters. "I believe it would be in the country's best interest if the Opposition, instead of politicising this issue, offered some constructive suggestions," the Shiv Sena MP further added. His remarks come amid ongoing political discourse over the Prime Minister's recent statement, with leaders from various parties reacting to the issue. Rahul Gandhi slams PM Modi Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha's Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the India-US interim trade agreement, alleging that the latter has "given away" the future of farmers and the country's energy security, as per ANI. The Congress leader accused PM Modi of opening India's agriculture sector to the international market and allowing the US to dictate its fuel procurement strategy to fulfil the country's energy needs. Addressing a public rally in Kottayam, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the state, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed concern that the US deal can negatively impact India's ability to navigate through the West Asia conflict. The Congress MP said, "Narendra Modi signed the US deal, whereby he gave away the future of India's farmers. He's the first PM in modern Indian history who has opened agriculture to the international market. He's the first PM of modern India who has given away our energy security. Today, India cannot buy oil, diesel, or petrol from whom it wants, as per ANI. As the West Asia conflict began, the US announced the 30-day waiver given to India to purchase Russian oil, which also sparked fresh allegations from Congress over the deal. However, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had clarified that "national interest" would continue to guide India's energy-related decisions, underlining that the key drivers of the country's energy policy are "adequate availability, fair pricing and reliability of supply". (With inputs from ANI)
30 March,2026 08:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Bombay High Court (HC) has held that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) has an overriding effect over debt recovery laws such as the SARFAESI Act and the Recovery of Debts and Bankruptcy (RDB) Act when it comes to the attachment of “proceeds of crime”, news agency PTI reported. In a judgment delivered on March 23, the Nagpur bench set aside previous orders of the PMLA Appellate Tribunal, which had favoured banks’ rights to recover debts from attached properties. The bench, comprising Justices MS Jawalkar and Nandesh Deshpande, observed that debt recovery laws like SARFAESI and RDB “would not render PMLA subservient to them due to the distinct objects and purposes of the two enactments”. The court emphasised that PMLA’s legislative objective of confiscating proceeds of crime is separate from the debt recovery framework, and hence, debt recovery laws cannot override the Act. The case dates back to a 2012 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Grace Industries Ltd over irregularities in coal block allocations. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) identified about Rs 24.92 crore as proceeds of crime and provisionally attached immovable properties of the accused entities in 2015. These properties were already mortgaged to HDFC Bank as security for loans extended before the ED’s attachment. HDFC Bank argued that its statutory priority under RDB and SARFAESI Acts entitled it to recover dues from the attached properties. The bank approached the PMLA Appellate Tribunal under Section 26, which ruled in its favour, stating that “secured creditors enjoy statutory priority” under debt recovery laws. HC rules PMLA attachment overrides secured creditors, tribunal order struck down The ED challenged this order, arguing that the tribunal wrongly equated attachment of proceeds of crime with government dues recoverable under civil law. The ED submitted that PMLA is a special penal statute aimed at confiscation of tainted property, not ordinary debt recovery, and the tribunal’s order undermined this objective. Citing Supreme Court precedents, the high court noted that provisions of both types of enactments cannot be said to override each other automatically. “We confirm the view taken by the Delhi High Court in Deputy Director, Directorate of Enforcement Delhi v. Axis Bank & Ors that an attachment under PMLA is not rendered illegal simply because a secured creditor has a prior interest,” the court said. However, it clarified that if confiscation orders have been passed or a PMLA trial under Section 4 has begun, claims of parties asserting legitimate interest must be adjudicated only by the special court. HC described the tribunal’s order as “illegal, arbitrary and contrary to law” and granted the bank the liberty to file an application before the special court for release of the attachment under PMLA provisions. (With PTI inputs)
30 March,2026 07:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert for 14 districts across Maharashtra on Wednesday, warning of heavy thunderstorms, gusty winds, and isolated hail. Maharashtra districts under orange alert Marathwada and Vidarbha: Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal After the recent dry heat in Vidarbha, weather patterns are shifting as pre monsoon instability develops over central India. IMD indicates a short spell of showers and isolated thunderstorms in parts of the region over the next few days. Western Maharashtra: Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli North Maharashtra and others: Ahilyanagar, Pune, Jalna, Wardha These areas are likely to experience severe thunderstorms with lightning, winds of 50–60 kmph, and scattered hail. Coastal Maharashtra Alert issued for Mumbai, Thane, and Palghar, with light rain or thundershowers expected on Wednesday and Thursday. Raigad and Ratnagiri: Isolated thunderstorms with winds of 30–50 kmph possible. Sindhudurg: Higher alert for thunderstorms, lightning, gusty winds (50–60 kmph), and possible hail. IMD predicts thundershowers in Mumbai, but city's climate remains warm and hazy The IMD has predicted light rain and thundershowers across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Sindhudurg on Wednesday, indicating a possible early shift towards monsoon-like conditions in the state. However, Mumbai’s weather told a different story on the ground, with the city waking up to morning haze. Despite forecasts hinting at rainfall, heat and humidity persisted, with temperatures expected to range between 23 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius, as per IMD. The city’s air quality remained satisfactory, with the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) SAMEER app reporting an overall AQI (Air Quality Index) of 87. AQI across Mumbai Bandra-Kurla Complex: 99 Borivali East: 87 Byculla: 92 Andheri East: 101 Chembur: 92 Colaba: 64 Deonar: 119 Ghatkopar: 118 Kandivali East: 36 Kandivali West: 89 Bhandup West: 79 Malad West: 95 Mazgaon: 102 Powai: 33
30 March,2026 07:13 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing LPG crisis across the country, the Delhi Police on Wednesday busted multiple illegal LPG storage and refilling units across the city, news agency PTI reported. The police seized a total of 269 cylinders and apprehended six persons in separate operations, an officer said. In South Delhi's Rajpur Khurd area, the police unearthed an illegal LPG storage unit, arresting two persons and seizing 223 cylinders from the premises. The accused, who have been taken into custody, are identified as Hitesh Rathi (38) and Arvind Kumar (40). As per officers, both of them were allegedly operating the facility without a valid licence or authorisation, PTI reported. 223 LPG Indane cylinders recovered The officer further said, “Police raided a plot in Rajpur Khurd village on Tuesday and recovered 223 Indane LPG cylinders, including 16 filled and 45 empty domestic cylinders and 162 empty commercial cylinders." Along with the cylinders, an electronic weighing machine and eight safety caps were also seized by officers. Police said that the stockpiling of such a large number of cylinders without safety measures posed a serious risk to nearby residents. "The accused failed to produce valid documents for storing the cylinders," the officer added. Officials from the food and supplies department and Indane Gas verified the seizure, stated PTI. LPG storage and refilling units busted in Khyala area In a separate operation, Delhi Police busted three illegal LPG storage and refilling units in the Khyala area and apprehended four persons, recovering 46 cylinders from them. The accused have been identified as Shivmurat Singh (40), Raghuraj (26), Arvind Singh (27), and Ompal (37), the police said. Of the recovered cylinders, 20 were of Indane Gas and 26 of Bharat Gas. They were seized from the rented premises and temporary sheds. Weighing machines and illegal refilling equipment were also recovered, officers said. “During interrogation, the accused revealed that they procured LPG cylinders using fake identities and stored them in congested areas to avoid detection. They allegedly extracted gas from filled cylinders and refilled empty ones to create additional cylinders for sale in the black market at inflated prices of up to Rs 3,000 per cylinder," an officer said. The police suspect the possible involvement of gas agency personnel, as the accused claimed to have sourced cylinders from local agencies. The role of these agencies is being examined. Separate cases have been registered under the Essential Commodities Act and the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and further investigation is underway. (With inputs from PTI)
30 March,2026 06:26 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondentRJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Monday alleged that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was compelled to resign from the MLC post under pressure from the BJP, claiming that the decision was not taken independently, reported IANS. Speaking to IANS, Tejashwi Yadav said, “This had to be done as it was the BJP’s decision, not Nitish Kumar’s. Some BJP agents within the JD(U) imposed it, which is why it happened. We had already said earlier that they would not allow him to continue as Chief Minister, and that is what is now unfolding.” He further accused the government of misleading the public on key promises. “They have deceived citizens by increasing electricity bills. Power was already expensive in Bihar, and now it will become even more costly. They had promised to give Rs 2 lakh to every woman but provided only Rs 10,000. They claimed the remaining amount would be given after elections, but even that promise is now being broken,” he said, reported IANS. Nitish Kumar resigns from council ahead of Rajya Sabha oath Meanwhile, Congress MP, Pramod Tiwari, also criticised the BJP, alleging that the party has deceived several leaders, including Nitish Kumar. According to IANS, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar resigned from his membership in the Legislative Council, fulfilling the constitutional requirement ahead of assuming office as a Rajya Sabha member. Nitish Kumar, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and received his election certificate the same day, is scheduled to formally take oath on April 10. As per constitutional provisions, an individual elected to Parliament must resign from their existing legislative position within 14 days, failing which their new membership stands cancelled. In compliance with this mandate, he submitted his resignation on March 30. The resignation letter was submitted by MLC Sanjay Gandhi on behalf of Nitish Kumar, reported IANS. This resignation also marks the end of Nitish Kumar’s long association with the Bihar Legislative Council. Nitish Kumar’s long council tenure ends after four terms He first became a member in 2006 and went on to serve four consecutive terms -- 2006-2012, 2012-2018, 2018-2024, and 2024 onwards -- before stepping down. Since assuming office as Chief Minister in November 2005, Nitish Kumar has consistently held his position through membership in the Legislative Council, rather than contesting Assembly elections. Although he was earlier elected as an MLA from Harnaut in 1985 and also served as a member in the Lok Sabha, his tenure as Chief Minister has largely been anchored in the Upper House of the state legislature, reported IANS. (Inputs from IANS)
30 March,2026 05:02 PM IST | Patna | mid-day online correspondentThe Government of Sikkim has established a centralised State Control Room in Gangtok along with district-level control rooms in all six districts to monitor and regulate LPG distribution. The move comes amid concerns over supply disruptions due to the current geopolitical situation due to West Asia conflict. According to the Food & Civil Supplies Department, the control rooms will operate round-the-clock to ensure smooth distribution, prevent black marketing, and address public grievances. A regulated refill system has been introduced, allowing domestic LPG refills every 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural regions, reported IANS. Priority in commercial LPG supply will be given to essential services such as hospitals and educational institutions. Authorities have also mandated strict enforcement of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, along with daily reporting from district units to the State Control Room. Oil companies, including IOCL, HPCL and BPCL, will coordinate with the government to maintain an uninterrupted supply. Officials have assured swift action against malpractice and emphasised that the system will remain in place until further notice, reported IANS. Centre monitors situation, ensures energy and maritime stability According to IANS, the Central government is maintaining continuous oversight and implementing appropriate preparedness and response measures to ensure stability across key sectors. Efforts remain focused on sustaining uninterrupted energy supplies, safeguarding maritime operations, and extending necessary assistance to Indian nationals in the region. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas released a statement today updating important steps undertaken in these areas as of March 29, 2026. In view of the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz, proactive measures are being undertaken to maintain the uninterrupted availability of petroleum products and LPG across the country, reported IANS. The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most vital maritime chokepoints, handling a significant portion of global oil shipments, making its security crucial for international trade and economic stability amid the continued conflict in the region following US-Israel joint military strikes on the Islamic Republic on February 28. Refineries run at high capacity, govt pushes PNG expansion According to IANS, all refineries are operating at high capacity, with adequate crude inventories in place. The country is also maintaining sufficient stocks of petrol and diesel. Domestic LPG Production from refineries has been increased to support domestic consumption. CGD Companies like IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL have offered incentives for taking domestic and Commercial PNG connections. The government has requested States/UTs and Central Ministries to expedite approval of applications required for expansion of the CGD network. The government has offered all States/UTs an additional 10 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to States provided they can help in long term transition from LPG to PNG. Subsequently, MoPNG has received applications from multiple States who have taken steps towards reforms for promoting the CGD network. Accordingly, additional allocation for some of the States has been recommended, reported IANS. Along with this, two LPG carriers- BW TYR and BW ELM carrying a combined LPG cargo of about 94,000 MT safely transited and are moving towards India shores on Sunday. (Inputs from IANS)
30 March,2026 05:02 PM IST | Sikkim | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1774867185905_d.png "Tejashwi Yadav. File Pic")
-1774869305611_d.png "A regulated refill system has been introduced, allowing domestic LPG refills every 25 days in urban areas and 45 days in rural regions. File Pic")