Highlights of the day: Sanjay Singh released; supporters gather outside Tihar Jail in Delhi

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10:35 PM

I want to tell the dictator of the nation that this is AAP, we were born from an agitation: Sanjay Singh

"From the party office, I want to tell the dictator of the nation that this is AAP, we were born from an agitation. You want to destroy our party? You have sent Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain to jail. What was their crime? Their crime was that they wanted to give better education to 2 crore people of Delhi," said Sanjay Singh.

8:22 PM

Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar jail after 6 months

AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar jail after nearly 6 months.

8:20 PM

NDMC's revenue collection for 2023-24 fiscal exceeds target

The New Delhi Municipal Council's revenues for the 2023-24 financial year exceeded its target, with property tax collection crossing the Rs 1,000-crore mark for the first time in its history, officials said on Wednesday. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) collected a revenue of Rs 3,795.30 crore from receipt sources such as property tax, licence fees, commercial revenue (water and electricity) and parking fees, it said in a statement.

7:19 PM

Kejriwal lost 4.5 kg since arrest on March 21, alleges AAP; Tihar jail says vitals normal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been rapidly losing weight since his arrest on March 21, senior AAP leader Atishi claimed on Wednesday and accused the BJP of putting his health at risk by keeping him in jail. She said the Aam Aadmi Party will seek legal help over the chief minister's health condition.

7:02 PM

Maldives President says Indian troops from second platform to leave within April

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said that Indian military personnel manning the second aviation platform would be withdrawn within the current month and reiterated that the entire process would be completed by May 10, a media report said here on Wednesday. Muizzu's statement comes three weeks after the first batch of approximately 25 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives manning a helicopter gifted by India departed from the island nation after handing over the operations of the chopper to an Indian civilian crew as agreed ahead of the March 10 deadline.

6:47 PM

Atishi directs chief secy to urgently review Delhi's water supply issues

Delhi Water Minister and DJB chairperson Atishi has directed the chief secretary to reassess water supply in the city and submit a report detailing the plan of action to mitigate the water shortage in the identified areas, an official order said on Wednesday. The chief secretary has been directed to submit the report by 8 pm on Thursday. In an "urgent" order, the minister instructed the chief secretary to take a colony-wise update on water availability in comparison to the summer demand in the areas.

5:43 PM

Tesla to scout sites in India for $2 bn-$3 bn EV plant: Report

Tesla will send a team to India this month to scout locations for a proposed $2 billion to $3 billion electric car plant, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

5:42 PM

Bomb threats cause short lockdown at Norwegian parliament house

Two bomb threats led to a brief lockdown of the Norwegian parliament on Wednesday, while lawmakers continued debate inside. Heavily armed police were posted outside the assembly and the surrounding streets was cordoned off. Bomb sniffing dogs were seen in action outside the building.

5:27 PM

Combination of methods of water storage needed to address water crisis: World Bank

A combination of different methods of water resource management, including water storage is needed to address the problem of water shortage as currently being witnessed in Bengaluru, a senior World Bank official said on Wednesday. Water resource management is absolutely critical in times of global warming and climate change, World Bank Executive Director Paramewaran Iyer said. He cited the Centre's 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' as an example.

5:01 PM

At SCO meet, NSA Doval raises concerns over cross-border terrorism; mentions LeT, JeM

Terrorists should be effectively and expeditiously dealt with including those involved in cross-border terrorism, NSA Ajit Doval said on in an address at a security conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Kazakh capital. He called for shunning double standards in combating the menace. He also underlined the need for holding accountable the sponsors, financiers and facilitators of terrorism.

4:55 PM

Nuh Police arrest 2 people involved in cyber frauds

Cops have arrested two people for allegedly committing cyber frauds, an officer stated today. Five mobile phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from their possession, he added. The two have been identified as Hajma, a native of Ghasera village of Nuh district, and Sakir, a native of Utawar Ka Nagla village of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

4:49 PM

News update: Delhi HC reserves order on Kejriwal plea challenging arrest by ED

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. "I am going to reserve judgement," said Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma after hearing the senior counsel appearing for the AAP leader as well as the agency.

4:23 PM

News update: Man linked to MP's NHM scam arrested for UP police recruitment paper leak, says STF

"The UP STF arrested Rajiv Nayan Mishra, the prime accused in the paper leak case, near Pari Chowk in Greater Noida on April 2. Further investigation is being conducted," says UP ADG Amitabh Yash.

3:30 PM

Indirect tax collection for FY24 exceeds RE by 'handsome margin': CBIC chief

The indirect tax collection for FY24 has exceeded the revised estimates (RE) of Rs 14.84 trillion by "a handsome margin", helped by a record GST mop-up, a top government official said. Lauding the efforts of tax officials, CBIC chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, in a letter to field officials, said, "I am happy to inform that the indirect tax collections for the Financial Year 2023-24, including Customs and Union Excise Duty have exceeded the Revised Estimates by a handsome margin".

3:02 PM

ED is BJP, and BJP is ED: AAP leader Somnath Bharti

2:40 PM

PM Modi has done a lot of work for the upliftment of poor and farmers. : Amit Shah in UP's Muzaffarnagar.

"This (Lok Sabha) election is to elect Narendra Modi as the PM for a third term. PM Modi has done a lot of work for the upliftment of poor and farmers. He formulated a national policy for sugarcane farmers, thereby bringing a lot of changes." Amit Shah said at a rally in Muzaffarnagar today.

2:25 PM

Supreme Court asks for deletion of Bansuri Swaraj's name from Sanjay Singh's bail order

The top court today asked for the deletion of advocate Bansuri Swaraj's name from its order of granting bail to AAP leader Sanjay Singh after the Enforcement Directorate said her name got added to the list due to an "inadvertent error". Advocate Zoheb Hussain, appearing for the ED, said Swaraj did not appear in the case nor did she represent the agency in the matter.

2:22 PM

News update: First batch workers from India under G2G agreement arrives in Israel

Amid a big shortage of trained hands in Israel, the first batch of more than 60 workers from India have arrived in Israel under a government-to-government agreement to bolster the country's construction industy. The mechanism has been worked out to keep away middlemen and to make the process of hiring fair through the screening tests conducted by Israeli examiners.

1:51 PM

Tata Steel petitions for loan waiver from Steel Development Fund

The Calcutta High Court has accepted a writ petition submitted by Tata Steel concerning the forgiveness of loans it received from the Steel Development Fund. 

1:50 PM

PM Modi did miracle; now world listens carefully when India speaks: Rajnath Singh

World didn't take India seriously in past. PM Modi did miracle; now world listens carefully when India speaks, Union minister Rajnath Singh said today. 

1:09 PM

CM Arvind Kejriwal challenges arrest in Delhi High Court

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's case has been taken up in Delhi High Court today.

1:06 PM

News update: BJP's Sushil Modi battling cancer, won't contest Lok Sabha elections

12:19 PM

Delhi court directs AAP MP Sanjay Singh not to tamper with evidence

A Delhi court today directed AAP leader Sanjay Singh not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses in the Delhi liquor policy case. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja passed the directions before passing an order to release Singh from Tihar central jail following bail granted to him by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

12:10 PM

Delhi BJP sends defamation notice to Atishi over her 'join BJP offer' claim

The BJP's Delhi unit has sent a defamation notice to senior AAP leader Atishi and asked for a public apology for her claim that the  party approached her through a "very close" person to join it. A day earlier, the Delhi minister alleged that four AAP leaders, including herself, would be arrested soon and claimed that she was advised to join the BJP or be ready to be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a month.

12:08 PM

Tamil Nadu government accuses central government of withholding relief funds

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court claiming that the centre was not releasing relief funds meant to address damages caused by natural calamities. In its petition, the Tamil Nadu government has asked the Court to issue directions to the Centre to extend over Rs 37,000 crore of aid towards relief for damages caused by the recent floods and cyclone Maichung.

11:56 AM

News update: More than 700 people injured in earthquake, says Taiwan government

Taiwan’s National Fire Agency said at least four people were killed, 711 injured and 77 others remain trapped in buildings following the quake, Albany Herald reported.

11:50 AM

News updates: Three ex-convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination return to Sri Lanka

11:03 AM

J-K news update: Policeman injured in Kathua shootout dies in hospital

A probationary police sub-inspector (SI) who suffered  head injuries during an exchange of fire between police and gangsters in  Kathua a day ago died as a result of his injuries in the hospital. Sub-Inspector Deepak Sharma was undergoing treatment at the Government Medical College (GMC).

10:58 AM

Biden, Trump win presidential primaries in four more states

US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump have secured victory in their presidential primaries in four more states as they are set for a 2020 rematch in November. On Tuesday, hundreds of delegates were up for grabs in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and the crucial battleground state of Wisconsin.

10:56 AM

Allegations were made without any evidence: AAP leader Gopal Rai after SC grants bail to Sanjay Singh