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Exposing the criminal mentality of some men in Khaki, the Delhi Police arrested one of its own personnel for stealing Rs 50 lakh and valuables from the anti-terror unit’s warehouse in South Delhi, an official said on Monday.

Head Constable Khurshid, who was shifted out of the Special Cell to the East District a few days ago, was arrested on Saturday for stealing Rs 50 lakh in cash in addition to gold jewellery of an unspecified amount from the Special Cell malkhana (store room) at the Lodhi Road office, the official said.

He was identified and arrested using CCTV footage of Friday night when the theft took place, he said, adding that the stolen items have been recovered.

According to officials, Khurshid relied upon departmental information about the presence of valuables and cash in the malkhana to execute the theft.Khurshid managed to execute his plan flawlessly and could have got away easily but for an alert malkhana incharge who detected that there was something amiss in the warehouse, the police said.While penal offences committed by policemen are probed by the law enforcers themselves, allegations of misconduct with public are investigated by the Delhi government’s Police Complaints Authority.

Authority Chairperson Justice Poonam A. Bamba, former Judge of the Delhi High Court, said in the Annual Report 2023-24 that a total of 1,688 complaints were received and carried forward during the period.

During the year, 649 cases were disposed of, leaving 1,039 cases pending. The percentage of disposals stood at 38.44 per cent.

The Authority is also authorised to probe public complaints related to extortion, land or house grabbing and other incidents involving serious abuse of authority. Complaints of illegal detention, police custody death or rape and grievous hurt in police custody are also probed by the Authority.

A Mahindra Thar SUV, allegedly driven in anger, rammed a young man, sending him flying into a roadside drain. The shocking act, caught on camera in Noida’s Sector 53 and now viral on social media, has prompted urgent police action and reignited public concerns over rising street violence in the city.

According to police sources, the violence stemmed from an online spat. “There was a dispute between the two parties under the police station Sector-24 area to comment on the social media platform. Both sides are familiar with each other,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP), Noida, Sumit Kumar Shukla. The altercation reportedly began over comments exchanged on Instagram and escalated into a physical confrontation on the street.Eyewitnesses say the argument turned violent before the Thar driver deliberately accelerated, mowing down the victim with such force that he was thrown off the road and into a nearby drain, bleeding and motionless. The SUV then fled the scene.

The Sector 24 Police have registered a case under relevant sections for rash driving, causing hurt, and criminal intimidation. “Police team has been formed for the arrest of the accused, registering the prosecution under the relevant sections by the police station Sector-24,” added ADCP Shukla.A special investigation team has been tasked with identifying and arresting the driver, who is currently on the run. The viral video, which shows the horrifying moment of impact and the chaos that followed, has triggered a storm of condemnation online.

Citizens and people online are demanding stricter measures to prevent such brazen acts of violence on public roads. The incident has once again exposed the volatile mix of online aggression spilling into real-world brutality.A special investigation team has been tasked with identifying and arresting the driver, who is currently on the run. The viral video, which shows the horrifying moment of impact and the chaos that followed, has triggered a storm of condemnation online.

Citizens and people online are demanding stricter measures to prevent such brazen acts of violence on public roads. The incident has once again exposed the volatile mix of online aggression spilling into real-world brutality.

In a major push towards clean mobility, the Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Ltd (MMMOCL) has joined hands with Honda Power Pack Energy India Pvt Ltd to launch a battery-swapping network across Mumbai’s metro and monorail stations.

The move makes Mumbai one of the first Indian cities to embed electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure into its public transport system.

As part of the initiative, 31 battery-swapping stations will be installed – 25 along the metro Lines, and six at monorail stops – with the aim of easing electric vehicle adoption among two- and three-wheeler users, especially delivery agents and fleet operators.

The first such ‘E:swap’ centre has already been commissioned at Dahisar East metro station.

The project is the first large-scale rollout under MMMOCL’s newly adopted EV policy, approved in its 29th board meeting chaired by MMRDA Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee.Honda’s ‘E:swap’ technology allows EV users to replace depleted batteries with fully charged units in under two minutes, tackling key hurdles like charging time and range anxiety.

“This collaboration with Honda marks a significant stride in our mission to create a sustainable, low-emission urban ecosystem,” Mr Mukherjee said. “We’re rapidly expanding this network across the city.”

The stations will be established at key locations including Gundavali, Jogeshwari East, Goregaon East, Malad West, Andheri West, Dahisar East, Borivali West and major monorail points like Wadala and Chembur.

All installations will follow safety and environmental protocols.

According to MMMOCL, the project will generate an estimated Rs 30 lakh in non-fare box revenue, contributing to the agency’s financial sustainability.Honda’s ‘E:swap’ technology allows EV users to replace depleted batteries with fully charged units in under two minutes, tackling key hurdles like charging time and range anxiety.

“This collaboration with Honda marks a significant stride in our mission to create a sustainable, low-emission urban ecosystem,” Mr Mukherjee said. “We’re rapidly expanding this network across the city.”

The stations will be established at key locations including Gundavali, Jogeshwari East, Goregaon East, Malad West, Andheri West, Dahisar East, Borivali West and major monorail points like Wadala and Chembur.

All installations will follow safety and environmental protocols.

According to MMMOCL, the project will generate an estimated Rs 30 lakh in non-fare box revenue, contributing to the agency’s financial sustainability.

Considering the perennial issue of north India’s smog-choked winter, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is striking at two major pollution culprits – paddy stubble burning and open municipal solid waste (MSW) fires.

Through Statutory Direction No. 92, the commission is mandating brick kilns in non-NCR districts of Haryana and Punjab to co-fire paddy straw-based pellets, aiming for 50 per cent usage by November 2028.

Simultaneously, Direction No. 91 targets fires at sanitary landfills (SLFs) and open MSW burning across the National Capital Region (NCR), tackling toxic emissions head-on to clear the region’s hazy skies.

Why This Matters: A Dual Assault on Air Pollution

North India’s air quality crisis peaks every winter, with Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) often soaring into the “severe” range (above 400).Paddy stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, coupled with open MSW fires and landfill blazes, are key culprits. In 2024, Punjab recorded over 10,000 stubble fire incidents, contributing up to 40 per cent of Delhi’s pollution on peak days, per the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology.

Meanwhile, MSW burning and landfill fires release harmful pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, dioxins, and methane, exacerbating health risks from asthma to heart disease. The Air Quality Commission’s twin directives aim to curb these sources with innovative and sustainable solutions.

Tackling Paddy Stubble: Brick Kilns As Allies

To combat stubble burning, Direction No. 92 mandates brick kilns in non-NCR areas of Haryana and Punjab to co-fire paddy straw-based pellets or briquettes with coal, following a phased timeline:

November 1, 2025: 20 per cent co-firingThis transforms agricultural waste into a cleaner fuel, reducing emissions from kilns – thousands of which dot the region – and creating a market for paddy straw. Farmers gain an incentive to sell straw rather than burn it, potentially boosting rural economies. State governments must enforce these targets and report monthly to the commission.

“There have been allegations that the Assembly committees cannot examine CAG reports or summon officers, but the powers of the committees have not been reduced,” he said.

“The previous government used to summon officials in routine matters. The assembly committees — privileges committee and the petitions committee– can call officials and seek explanation in case of a complaint and also look into CAG reports,” he added.

He said that a draft is ready and the first meeting of the Rules Committee will be held on June 5.

The review will also focus on simplifying legislative language and introducing gender-neutral terminology, reflecting the Assembly’s commitment to inclusivity, clarity, and equality in its operations.

The Eighth Delhi Assembly is approaching its 100th working day on June 4.

Gupta said a special report-card is being prepared to document the milestones, decisions, and reforms undertaken and will be presented on June 6.He said two new committees have been constituted — the Committee on the Welfare of Senior Citizens and the Committee on the Welfare of Transgenders and Persons with Disabilities.

“These committees are aimed at strengthening the institutional framework for addressing the concerns of marginalised groups. The rules governing their structure and functioning will be placed before the Rules Committee for detailed review and recommendations,” he added.

Best practices from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be studied and incorporated to ensure effectiveness and alignment with national standards, he added.

He also said the six long-pending reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) were tabled in the House during this period. To strengthen audit follow-up mechanisms, the Assembly is developing a dedicated Audit Para Monitoring System (APMS) mobile application.This digital tool will enable real-time tracking of audit recommendations, improve compliance, and enhance financial oversight, he added. The last amendment to the Rules of Procedure were made in 2017.

Last month, former chief minister Atishi had written to Gupta and said that the public accounts committee does not have the authority to examine CAG reports on public health, liquor supply and vehicular air pollution.

Gupta also said that Rule 280 was not clearly defined and was sometimes used by members for “vested” interests. While he did not mention any party, AAP hit out at him saying it was strange that a person who used every opportunity during last 10 years to disrupt Delhi Legislative Assembly is pointing fingers at others.

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