Highlights of the day: 'No fire at Delhi's Aiims Hospital'; DFS chief confirms receiving call, but turned out to be false alarm

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11:23 PM

False alarm of fire at Delhi's Aiims

A false alarm of fire at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Aiims) was given to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) control room here on Tuesday evening, officials said. The call was made by a nearby resident at fire control room number 101 at 9.28 pm. The caller said that a fire broke out on top floor of the surgery block in Aiims, they said. "Soon after the call, we sent seven fire tenders to the spot but they found no fire had occurred. There were some fumes from the LED light, which the caller believed that it is a fire," said an official of DFS. The local police also reached the spot and later declared the call as bogus, he said. The officer said that the caller has accepted that he mistakenly made the call. However, the police said that it is investigating the matter further.

10:10 PM

Fire breaks out at top floor of Surgery Block at Aiims Delhi

Fire breaks out at the top floor of the Surgery Block at Aiims Hospital, Delhi. A total of 7 fire tenders at the spot. Details awaited, according to Delhi Fire Service.

9:41 PM

106 govt employees suspended in Telangana for attending BRS meeting

The Election Commission has suspended 106 government employees in Siddipet district of Telangana for allegedly attending a BRS meeting in violation of the model code of conduct.Official sources on Tuesday said a large number of government employees attended the meeting at a function hall on April 7 night.Based on a complaint from the BJP, a flying squad of election officials visited the meeting venue. On seeing the flying squad, many employees fled from the spot.

9:40 PM

Moon not sighted, Eid to be celebrated in India on Thursday

Imams of Delhi's Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri mosque today said that the moon has not been sighted and hence Eid will now be celebrated in India on Thursday.

8:50 PM

DTDC Express elevates Abhishek Chakraborty as Chief Executive Officer

Express logistics services provider DTDC Express on Tuesday said it has elevated Abhishek Chakraborty as its Chief Executive Officer, effective from April 3.

Before assuming the role of CEO, Chakraborty led DTDC as Executive Director for 15 years, the company said in a statement.

7:26 PM

PM set target of 370 seats for BJP to 'pay respect' to abrogation of Article 370, says Tripura CM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the target of 370 Lok Sabha seats for the BJP to "pay respect" to the decision to abrogate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura CM Manik Saha said on Tuesday.Addressing an election rally in South Tripura's Hrishyamukh, he asked party workers to work hard to achieve the target."At the BJP's national executive meeting in Delhi, PM Modi set the target for the BJP to win 370 seats to pay respect to the abrogation of Article 370. He also emphasised the need to work hard to achieve the target," Saha said.

7:25 PM

Arvind Kejriwal will soon get justice from the Supreme Court: Sanjay Singh

On Delhi HC dismisses CM Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by ED in Excise Policy money laundering case, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, said, "The lawyers of Arvind Kejriwal are engaged in inspecting all the documents and the court is constantly watching this matter. I have full hope that Arvind Kejriwal will soon get justice from the Supreme Court. There is a process of justice and there are many delays in the judicial process, there are many complexities in the PMLA Act, in which the provisions for getting bail are difficult."

7:23 PM

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev tenders unconditional apology

Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balkrishna files an affidavit in the Supreme Court, tender unconditional apology in regard to misleading advertisements and says sincerely regret this lapse and wish to assure the Court that the same will not be repeated.

7:23 PM

Ukraine attacked nuke plant, alleges Russia

Russia today claimed that a Ukrainian drone attacked Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant 10 minutes after representatives of IAEA mission passed by.

6:00 PM

We will challenge HC order before the Supreme Court as early as possible: Kejriwal's counsel

On Delhi HC dismisses CM Kejriwal's plea challenging his arrest by ED in the Excise Policy money laundering case, Advocate Rishikesh Kumar, counsel for CM Kejriwal said, "We have challenged the illegal arrest of Arvind Kejriwal. The High Court in its finding has said that the remand order is legal and secondly, they said that they had the ground to arrest...We are waiting for the order to come. Once the detailed order is uploaded, we will challenge it before the Supreme Court as early as possible."

5:37 PM

EC issues Cong leader Randeep Surjewala show-cause notice for his 'undignified' comments against Hema Malini

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued Congress leader Randeep Surjewala a show-cause notice for his alleged undignified remarks against actor-turned-politician and BJP MP Hema Malini.

The poll body also sought a response from Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on the steps taken to ensure strict compliance with its advisories on upholding the honour and dignity of women during public discourse by its leaders.

Both have been asked to submit their respective responses to the Election Commission. While Surjewala has been asked to respond by April 11 evening, Kharge has been given time till the following evening.

Surjewala has said the undated video was edited and distorted and he never intended to insult or hurt the BJP MP.

5:30 PM

Paytm Payments Bank MD, CEO Surinder Chawla quits

Beleaguered Paytm Payments Bank's managing director and CEO Surinder Chawla has resigned from the company, a regulatory filing said on Tuesday. Chawla's resignation comes amidst Paytm Payments Bank facing prohibitory action from banking regulator RBI. "Surinder Chawla, Managing Director and CEO of PPBL has tendered his resignation on April 8, 2024, on account of personal reasons and to explore better career prospects. He will be relieved from PPBL w.e.f. close of business hours on June 26, 2024, unless changed by mutual consent," One97 Communications, Paytm brand owner, said in a regulatory filing. Chawla joined PPBL in January last year.

4:49 PM

ED in possession of "enough material," arrest not in contravention of legal provisions: Delhi High Court order

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was in possession of "enough material" which led to Kejriwal's arrest, and the trial court remanded him in the custody of the agency by a well-reasoned order. "The court is of the view that the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal was not in contravention of legal provisions. The remand can't be held to be illegal," said Justice Sharma while delivering the verdict. Besides his arrest, Kejriwal, who is currently in judicial custody in Tihar jail, had also challenged his subsequent remand in Enforcement Directorate's custody, which the court said was not illegal.

4:36 PM

Aam Aadmi Party's arrogance has been shattered: BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi

 "Aam Aadmi Party's arrogance has been shattered. The self-proclaimed honest character (of Arvind Kejriwal) has also been shattered by facts and proofs," Rajya Sabha MP and BJP's spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said today after the Delhi High Court's judgement on CM Kejriwal's petition.

4:31 PM

Delhi CM Kejriwal to move Supreme Court against Delhi HC's order on arrest by ED

Arvind Kejriwal will move Supreme Court against Delhi High Court's order dismissing his petition challenging arrest in money laundering case, news agency PTI reported today citing AAP sources.

4:20 PM

Cannot be suggested that law of approver was enacted to implicate present petitioner: Delhi HC

CM Kejriwal had argued that his arrest and remand are illegal. The ED refuted the assertions and argued that Kejriwal is the kingpin of the excise policy 'scam'. 

The probe agency said that AAP received nearly Rs100 crore as kickbacks by modifying the excise policy to favour certain interests.

4:13 PM

ED case reveals CM was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP: Delhi High court Order

The Delhi High Court said in its judgement today that the material collected by ED reveals Mr Arvind Kejriwal conspired and was actively involved in use and concealment of proceeds of crime. The ED case also reveals that he was involved in his personal capacity as well as convenor of AAP.

4:10 PM

Delhi High Court dismisses CM Arvind Kejriwal's plea against arrest by ED

Arvind Kejriwal ‘conspired, was actively involved in use of proceeds of crime’, shows material: High Court

4:01 PM

Court does not consider issues of political parties, but of investigating agency: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court stated that the issue before this court does not consider the issues of political parties, but of investigating agency. A court has to be dispassionate and decide a case in accordance with law.

3:59 PM

CM Kejriwal will have right to question statement of approver at appropriate stage: Delhi HC

Whether MS Reddy or Sarath Reddy gave false statement,  Kejriwal would have the right to question the same and would cross-examine them during the appropriate stage, said the court. The law of approver is a very old law and was in existence even before the birth of many of us including the one writing this judgment, the Delhi High Court said today.

3:56 PM

News update: Different laws do not apply for CM, says Delhi High Court

3:49 PM

Delhi CM Kejriwal ‘conspired, was actively involved in use of proceeds of crime’, shows material: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court bench was reading out its final argument on Delhi CM Kejriwal's petition.

3:25 PM

Lenskart seeks land for factory near Bengaluru airport; K'taka Minister responds swiftly

Karnataka Industries Minister M B Patil today asked officials to assist Lenskart CEO Peyush Bansal, who said the company was looking for 25 acres of land near Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. Bansal posted his requirement on 'X' and within five minutes, the Minister responded in the affirmative.

3:21 PM

1-Russia aborts launch of Angara A5 space rocket from Vostochny cosmodrome

Russia today aborted the test launch of the Angara-A5 rocket from its Vostochny cosmodrome minutes before it was set to lift off. According to an announcement made through loudspeakers at the launch pad, the launch - which was supposed to be the first for this type of rocket at Russia's new cosmodrome - was delayed by at least 24 hours.

3:02 PM

Kerala CM accuses Congress of deliberately being silent about CAA in their manifesto

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today took a jab at the Congress for allegedly being silent about the Citizenship Amendment Act in their election manifesto and claimed that it reflects their fear to speak about the contentious act.

2:55 PM

SC allows Abbas Ansari to participate in father Mukhtar Ansari, 'Fatiha' ceremony

The Supreme Court today allowed Abbas Ansari to participate in the 'Fatiha' ceremony, scheduled for April 10 in memory of his father Mukhtar Ansari, who died in jail recently. The top court directed that Abbas Ansari be taken from Kasganj jail to his hometown Ghazipur in police custody with adequate security.

2:26 PM

Iran to release four environmental activists jailed for spying after six years

Four Iranian environmental activists jailed on security charges are set to be released after more than six years in prison,  Bloomberg News reported today. The individuals - Houman Jokar, Niloufar Bayani, Sepideh Kashani and Taher Ghadirian - are expected to be released “over the next few days,” their lawyer Hojjat Kermani said.

2:13 PM

Russia, China to talk about deeper security co-operation in Eurasia, Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov says

After talks in Beijing, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on Tuesday that Russia and China have agreed to discuss ways to deepen security co-operation across Europe and Asia to counter attempts by the United States to impose its will on the region. Lavrov, after talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, said that Putin had suggested strengthening Eurasian security and that China and Russia had agreed to "start a dialogue with the involvement of our other like-minded people on this issue".

1:49 PM

Congress files complaint against BJP minister over discrepancy in assets

Election Commission directs CBDT to probe claims against Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

1:18 PM

AAP to begin door-to-door campaign today; 'We will take CM Kejriwal's message to people,' says Gopal Rai

Lok sabha polls: Aam Aadmi Party is starting a door-to-door campaign from today to take it's party leader and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's message to people. 'The people of Delhi for whom Arvind Kejriwal worked will have to take charge today... If we answer with votes, then Arvind Kejriwal will come out of jail. With this message, we are going door-to-door today,' Delhi Minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai said while announcing the campaign.