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Delhi Crime Branch busts LPG hoarding racket in Ranhola; 459 cylinders seized

New Delhi, March 26, 2026

In a major enforcement action under the Essential Commodities Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Delhi Police Crime Branch on Thursday unearthed an illegal operation involving the hoarding and misuse of LPG cylinders in the Ranhola area of Outer Delhi. A total of 459 empty gas cylinders, including 175 Bharat Petroleum and 284 Indane cylinders, were seized during the raid.

According to officials, the operation was carried out by the Western Range-I (WR-I) unit of the Crime Branch based on specific and credible Intelligence inputs. The raid exposed a large-scale illegal practice of unauthorised storage and alleged black marketing of LPG cylinders, highlighting deliberate misuse of the LPG distribution system.

In view of concerns regarding a perceived shortage of LPG, despite government assurances of adequate supply, a dedicated team was constituted to identify and act against hoarders. The team, led by Inspector Pradeep, comprised several officers, including Sub-Inspectors Dharmendra, Naresh Kumar, and Mohit Batan, along with other personnel, under the close supervision of ACP Raj Kumar.

Acting swiftly on the Intelligence received, the team conducted a coordinated raid at HP Balaji Gas Agency located on Nilothi Road in Village Ranhola. During the operation, the agency owner, Susheel Kumar Singhal, was found allegedly involved in the illegal hoarding of LPG cylinders. The Food Supply Officer (FSO), Jag Pravesh, was immediately called to the spot and initiated necessary legal action as per prescribed procedures.

The seized cylinders were subsequently handed over on superdari to Sanjay Kumar Mehta, Sales Area Manager of Hindustan Petroleum Gas, following due process. A case has been registered under FIR No. 62/2026 at the Crime Branch police station under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 61(2) of the BNS. Further investigation into the matter is underway.

Police officials revealed that the accused, being the owner of an LPG agency, allegedly misused his position to accumulate a large stock of commercial LPG cylinders without authorisation. It is suspected that he intended to create artificial scarcity by withholding supply and later selling the cylinders in the open market at inflated prices for wrongful gain.

The illegal stock was reportedly kept under the guise of regular inventory to evade detection, indicating a well-planned and systematic operation.

Susheel Kumar Singhal, a resident of Nihal Vihar and currently residing in Ambika Vihar, Delhi, owns and operates the HP Balaji Gas Agency.

Officials stated that the action reflects the Delhi Police’s continued commitment to curbing illegal activities such as hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities. They added that strict action will continue against offenders to ensure fair distribution and protect public interest.(Agency)

Akshay Kumar reacts to the language debate in Bollywood: Have always chosen Hindi no matter what

Mumbai, March 26, 2026

Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar opened up about language preferences in the film industry, further stating that he has always chosen to speak in Hindi even during a time when English was often seen as more fashionable.

“In the ’90s, even if there was an award night, I always said that I would speak in Hindi. Generally too, I always speak in Hindi. Even at many of my conclaves, where there are English speakers, I fold my hands and tell them, you speak in English but I will speak in Hindi. That is my comfort,” Akshay Kumar said in an exclusive conversation with IANS.

During the conversation, it was noted that while English was widely preferred in the 1990s, actors like Akshay Kumar and Govinda were among the few who confidently communicated in Hindi, choosing comfort over snob appeal.

Sharing his perspective, Akshay also stated that language, for him, has always been about comfort and authenticity rather than perception.

Actor Rajpal Yadav, who was also present at the interview, added that language has never been a barrier on film sets despite the diversity of people working together.

“Tell me one thing, there are around 250 people on a set. Punjabi, Tamil, Malayali, Assamese, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, everyone is there. It’s a mixture. But in that mixture, there is never a problem with language. Till date, there has never been any issue with communication. Everyone understands cinema and communication,” Rajpal Yadav said.

On the work front, Akshay Kumar is gearing up for his upcoming film “Bhoot Bangla,” which also stars Paresh Rawal, Tabu, Wamiqa Gabbi, Rajpal Yadav, and late veteran actor Asrani.

The film is directed by Priyadarshan and marks his reunion with Akshay Kumar after many years.

Bhoot Bangla is being produced by Balaji Telefilms and Balaji Motion Pictures and is all to release on the 10th of April.(Agency)

Gulveer Singh to lead Indian elite field at World 10K Bengaluru

Bengaluru, March 26, 2026

Gulveer Singh, 10,000m & 5,000m national record holder, will lead the Indian elite field at the 18th edition of the World 10K Bengaluru, scheduled to take place April 26.

A World Athletics Gold Label Race, carries a total prize purse of USD 210,000, with USD 26,000 awarded to the winners in the men’s and women’s categories. Indian elite athletes will also compete for top honours with Rs 3 lakh on offer for the top finishers, with an additional Rs 1 lakh awarded for setting an event record.

Gulveer heads into the race in red-hot form, having finished third at the New York City Half Marathon earlier this month, where he clocked 59:42, which is the best timing for any Indian half-marathon runner.

The national record holder in both the 10,000m (27:00.22) and 5000m (12:59.77), Gulveer enjoyed a standout 2025 season, winning both events at the Asian Athletics Championships. He also set an event record of 1:12:06 at the Tata Steel World 25K Kolkata 2025.

“The TCS World 10K Bengaluru is one of the most competitive road races in the country, and I’m excited to line up this year. It will be a great opportunity to test myself again on the roads in Bengaluru,” said Gulveer.

Earlier in the month, organisers also announced a strong international elite line-up for the 18th edition of the race, including the likes of Harbert Kibet of Uganda, Kenya’s Vincent Langat, Ethiopia’s Gemechu Dida and Eritrea’s Samuel Habte.

Speaking about the quality of the field, Gulveer said, “The TCS World 10K Bengaluru attracts some of the best international athletes every year. Competing against such a strong field motivates Indian runners to push themselves harder, and it can also inspire many young athletes in the country to take up running.”

“Events like this are very important for the ecosystem, especially in a year where we are focusing on the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games,” he added.(Agency)

‘Haven’t told my family about it yet’: Sakshi Rana on ‘Upcoming Player of the Year’ nomination at Hockey India Annual Awards

New Delhi, March 26, 2026

Ahead of the eighth Hockey India Annual Awards on March 27 in New Delhi, rising Indian hockey stars Sakshi Rana and Anmol Ekka shared their pride and excitement upon being nominated for prestigious under-21 honours.

Anmol has been nominated for the 2025 Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year (Men U21). Meanwhile, Sakshi is a nominee for the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2025 (Women – Under 21). The nominations emphasise the notable contributions of the two players last year.

Speaking about his nomination, Anmol said, “It’s a great feeling to be nominated for this award. Some distinguished names have won the award in the past, but I didn’t think I’d be amongst the players being nominated. So, when I saw my name, it was an amazing feeling. I haven’t told my family about the nomination yet. I will hopefully tell them when I win.”

The 20-year-old excelled at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup Tamil Nadu 2025 in Chennai, netting four goals—all from penalty corners. His key moment was in the third-place match against Argentina, where his goal helped India win the bronze medal and earned him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

Sharing his experience from the tournament, Anmol stated, “I got a lot of experience and exposure at the Junior World Cup. It felt like a reward for all the hard work that I have done in the last couple of years.”

Anmol considers his nomination for the Hockey India Jugraj Singh Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2025 to be just the start of his journey. The young athlete stays committed to daily improvement and aspires to represent the senior team.

“There are areas of my game that I want to improve on, even when it comes to penalty corners. I’m still in the junior team, so I have a couple of years to showcase the best of my abilities with consistency. If I can do that, I’m confident that I will earn a senior call up. And once I get there, I will try to give my best performance in the senior team as well.”

Meanwhile, Sakshi Rana has been gaining attention with her on-field performances. The 18-year-old debuted for India’s senior team in February last year. Later, she served as vice-captain for the junior team at the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago in December. She scored three goals during the tournament, highlighting her speed and scoring ability.

Throughout her senior career, the young forward has netted two goals in 12 appearances and played a pivotal role in helping India qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, scheduled for August.

Reflecting on her achievements in the previous year, she added, “I played the Junior World Cup, and made my senior debut before that in February last year. All of that has only been possible because of the hard work – that is the most important thing for me. So, I’ll keep pushing myself and give my best for the team.”

Sakshi shared her excitement about being nominated for the Hockey India Asunta Lakra Award for Upcoming Player of the Year 2025 said, “I was delighted when I found out. It felt like the hard work that I’ve been putting in is not going unnoticed. I haven’t told my family about the nomination yet, since I’ve been travelling to play. Hopefully, I can win and give them the good news.”

Focusing on the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026, Sakshi highlighted her preparation and mindset. “The focus for us was to qualify for the World Cup. Now that we’ve done so, we’ll get together as a team, focus on our structure and minute details in the training camp while working closely with our coaches. As a centre half, I’m learning when to move quicker with the ball and when to control the tempo. That’s the focus and mindset at the moment,” she concluded.(Agency)

Kerala CM counters LoP Gandhi’s ‘Communist Janata Party’ charge, calls Congress BJP’s ‘B-Team’

Thiruvananthapuram, March 26, 2026

Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress and its leader have historically functioned as the “B-team of the BJP”, even as he dismissed charges of a “Communist Janata Party” i.e. a purported CPI(M)-BJP nexus in the state.

Responding to LoP Rahul Gandhi’s allegation of an “unholy alliance” between the BJP and CPI(M) in Kerala, CM Vijayan said it was in fact the Congress that had consistently adopted positions enabling the BJP’s rise in several states.

He accused the party of weakening broader anti-BJP coalitions and fragmenting Opposition unity at critical junctures.

“Despite being a national leader, Rahul Gandhi does not understand the ground realities even at the level of local party workers,” CM Vijayan said, adding that he had failed to learn from repeated political setbacks.

According to him, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has often ended up benefiting the BJP across states.

The Chief Minister pointed to developments in Delhi, noting that while the BJP has pursued Opposition leaders through legal cases, LoP Rahul Gandhi had questioned when a minister in Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet was taken into custody, why was Kejriwal not arrested.

However, when courts later cleared Kejriwal, the episode proved embarrassing not just for the BJP but also for Rahul Gandhi, said CM Vijayan.

He further alleged that in the Delhi elections, the Congress failed to adopt a position aimed at preventing a BJP victory, instead targeting the Aam Aadmi Party, which had a stronger chance electorally.

A similar pattern, he said, was evident in Haryana, where Congress opposition to broader alliances led to a split in non-BJP votes, ultimately benefiting the BJP.

Vijayan’s remarks came in response to Rahul Gandhi’s virtual address from Delhi to a Congress-led UDF rally in Kozhikode on Wednesday night.

In his speech, LoP Rahul accused CM Vijayan of maintaining a “soft” stance towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he was receiving benefits not extended to other non-Congress Chief Ministers.

Taking the attack further, LoP Rahul Gandhi coined the term “CJP (Communist Janata Party)”, suggesting that Kerala was witnessing a tacit alignment between the CPI(M) and the BJP.

Rejecting the charge, CM Vijayan reiterated that such claims were politically-motivated, even as the war of words between the Congress and the Left escalates ahead of the Assembly polls.(Agency)

String of deadly bus fires, crashes in Andhra, Telangana over six months

Amaravati, March 26, 2026

The ghastly bus fire, which claimed 14 lives and left 22 others injured in Andhra Pradesh’s Markapuram district on Thursday, is the latest in a series of deadly accidents involving buses in the Telugu states.

Both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have witnessed at least four major bus tragedies in the last six months.

Nineteen people were burnt to death when a private bus caught fire after running over a motorbike lying on the road following an accident near Kurnool town of Andhra Pradesh on October 24, 2025.

The bus belonging to a private tour operator and carrying 46 people was on its way to Bengaluru from Hyderabad when the ghastly accident happened near Chinnatekur village on the outskirts of Kurnool.

While 19 passengers, including two children, were charred to death, 27 passengers, including both drivers, escaped by breaking glass windows.

Police investigation revealed that the bus ran over a motorcycle lying on the road after the rider rammed it into the road divider. The bus dragged the bike for about 200 meters, and friction and fuel leakage from the bike ignited a massive fire, which quickly engulfed the entire bus.

Police concluded that the bike rider, B. Shiva Shankar (22), died after hitting the divider, while his friend Erriswamy alias Nani, who was riding pillion and escaped with minor injuries, fled the scene in panic after watching the bus in flames. Police arrested Miriyala Lakshmaiah, who was driving the bus, and Vemuri Vinod Kumar, owner of V. Kaveri Travels, for causing death by rash or negligent act.

On November 3, 2025, a bus-truck collision in the Rangareddy district of Telangana claimed 19 lives and left 24 others injured.

The tipper truck laden with gravel rammed into the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) bus coming from the opposite direction. The bus with 72 people on board was coming to Hyderabad from Tandur. The deceased include 10 women and a 10-month-old baby. Drivers of both the TGSRTC bus and truck were killed in the head-on collision. Passengers sitting in the first six rows were crushed and buried under the gravel as the tipper lorry pierced through the bus.

The same day, a private bus overturned in Andhra Pradesh’s Eluru district, killing a man and injuring 10 others. The accident occurred when the bus, belonging to Bharati Travels and proceeding towards Hyderabad from Eluru, overturned while negotiating a turn at Jubilee Nagar.

On November 4, 2025, one person was killed, and eight others were injured when a private bus rammed into a truck in Andhra Pradesh’s Sri Sathya Sai district. The accident occurred near Dhamajipalli in Chennakothapalle mandal when the bus belonging to Jabbar Travels hit the truck from behind while negotiating the turn.

Three people were killed when a private bus caught fire after colliding with a container lorry in Andhra Pradesh’s Nandyal district on January 22, 2026. The bus lost control after suffering a tyre burst, and after jumping the road divider, collided with a lorry coming from the opposite direction.

The bus, which was on its way to Hyderabad from Nellore in Andhra Pradesh, and the container truck carrying motorcycles, caught fire as a result of the collision.

Police said the drivers of both the vehicles and the cleaner of the lorry were killed. All the passengers survived. Of the 36 passengers onboard, four sustained minor fractures and were admitted to a hospital.

Voicing concern over increasing road accidents, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, in November last year, directed officials to go for third-party auditing on road accidents to know the causes.

Third-party auditing is expected to help in ascertaining if an accident occurred because of some defect in the vehicle, lapse on the part of the driver, or gaps in road engineering works.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the deaths of 6,433 people in 15,462 road accidents during 2025.

Andhra Pradesh stands in eighth place in road accidents in the country.

The officials said that one-third of accidents were caused by two-wheelers, and 53 per cent were self-accidents involving cars and two-wheelers.

The CM instructed the officials to inquire into the reasons for the high number of deaths in road accidents in Nellore, Tirupati, Palnadu, Annamayya, and Kakinada districts.

Officials also said that 79 per cent of accidents occur due to over-speeding, three per cent due to wrong-side driving, and one per cent due to alcohol and mobile phones. While 42 per cent of accidents occur on national highways, 21 per cent of accidents occur on state highways.(Agency)

Karnataka man arrested by Andhra Police for ‘promoting extremist ideology’

Ballari (Karnataka), March 26, 2026

A 36-year-old man from Ballari was arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police on charges of spreading extremist propaganda through social media and maintaining links with suspected terrorist networks, police stated on Thursday.

The accused, identified as Abdul Salam, a resident of Abdul Kalam Street under the jurisdiction of Kaul Bazaar police station, was taken into custody near Dhara Mill following specific intelligence inputs.

Police said a team from Andhra Pradesh tracked Salam’s movements before arresting him in the city. Subsequently, with the assistance of local Kaul Bazaar police personnel, a panchanama was conducted at his residence. He was later produced before a court and taken to Andhra Pradesh for further investigation.

According to police sources, the case originated on March 22 when the Vijayawada Second Town police received information about individuals using social media platforms to spread extremist ideology and maintain links with banned terrorist organisations. Based on this, an FIR was registered on March 23, following which search operations were launched.

During the operation, the main accused, 23-year-old Mohammed Rehmatullah Sharif, was apprehended in the Winchpet area of Vijayawada. He allegedly confessed to being influenced by extremist ideologies propagated online and expressed intentions aligned with establishing a caliphate in India.

Investigators revealed that Sharif had established contacts with several individuals across the country, including Abdul Salam from Ballari. Preliminary findings indicate that Salam was part of an online network involved in sharing radical content and promoting extremist views.

The FIR also mentioned that a suspected foreign handler, identified as Al-Hakim Shukoor, had allegedly instructed Sharif to contact Salam. Police believe the network may have links to foreign-based operatives involved in radicalisation efforts.

Officials said individuals like Shukoor are believed to be playing a significant role in influencing and recruiting youth through digital platforms.

Highlighting the broader implications of the case, a senior police officer said, “This case underlines the growing role of social media in the radicalisation of youth. There is an urgent need to closely monitor online platforms and create awareness to counter such influences.”

It may be recalled that the National Investigation Agency had earlier arrested a suspect in Ballari while probing the 2024 Rameswaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru, pointing to emerging concerns over extremist networks operating in the region.(Agency)

80 fall ill after wedding feast in MP village; probe underway

Bhopal/Sehore, March 26, 2026

A mass food poisoning incident occurred where over 80 people fell ill after attending a wedding feast in a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Sehore district, said officials on Thursday.

Babadiya Noabad village in Ichhawar tehsil of the district witnessed a joyous wedding ceremony turn into a nightmare on Wednesday evening when food served to guests allegedly caused widespread food poisoning.

As many as 80 people who attended the feast fell ill, triggering chaos, screams, and panic across the village. Eyewitnesses reported that symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, and severe abdominal pain began shortly after the meal was served and eaten by more than 150-200 people.

What started as a few complaints quickly escalated as dozens more guests showed signs of distress. Within hours, the situation spiralled out of control, overwhelming the quiet rural setting.

By Wednesday night, the Ichhawar Community Health Centre was flooded with patients. Doctors, nurses, and paramedic teams were urgently called in. Two dedicated wards were set up for food poisoning cases, but the surge in patients left beds insufficient, forcing many to receive treatment on stretchers or in corridors.

“We have admitted 80 people who consumed contaminated food with symptoms of diarrhoea, vomiting, etc. They were treated, and most of them will be discharged by Thursday evening,” Dr Sudhir Dehariya, Chief Medical Health Officer, Sehore, told IANS.

He denied reports that any of the guests were critical and said that only 80 people were admitted to the Icchawar community health centre.

Elderly individuals appear to have suffered more severe effects, raising concerns about vulnerability in such outbreaks. Villagers and relatives pointed fingers at the quality of the food, specifically alleging that Gulab Jamuns prepared from Mawa (condensed milk solids) were the main culprit.

Many claimed symptoms intensified after consuming these sweets, fuelling suspicions of adulterated or expired Mawa used in preparation.

Such incidents often stem from poor hygiene, substandard ingredients, or improper storage during large community events.

In response, teams from the Health and Food Departments swiftly reached the spot. “We have collected samples of the suspected food items and sent them to a laboratory for detailed analysis. The exact cause — whether bacterial contamination, chemical adulteration, or expired ingredients — will only be confirmed once the test reports arrive,” Dr Dehariya said.(Agency)

‘Aakhri Sawal’ starring Sanjay Dutt to release in cinemas on May 15

Mumbai, March 26, 2026

The makers of the upcoming film ‘Aakhri Sawal’ starring Sanjay Dutt have locked its release date. The film is set to arrive in cinemas on May 15, 2026.

The makers took to social media on Thursday, and shared a new impactful poster revealing the release date. They wrote in the caption, “The question India never stopped asking. Get ready to know the answer on 15th May only in cinemas”.

The film also stars Amit Sadh, Namashi Chakraborty, Sameera Reddy, Tridha Choudhury and Neetu Chandra. The film is helmed by the National Award–winning filmmaker Abhijeet Mohan Warang.

Abhijeet made his directorial debut with the Marathi-language drama ‘Picasso’ in 2021. He won a Special Mention at the 67th National Film Awards. He has consistently delivered remarkable films in both Marathi and Hindi. Some of his works include ‘Deja Vu’, ‘Prem Pratha Dhumshan’, ‘Piccolo’, and the short film ‘Virtual Reality’.

‘Aakhri Sawal’ is set to bring to the audience a true story of the 100-year journey of one of India’s oldest unified organizations, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, founded in 1925 by Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. The audience will get to witness a pivotal meeting that altered the future of Bharat, transcending conventional historical narratives and going beyond what textbooks reveal.

It sheds light on the core philosophy of selfless service to the nation and promises to introduce audiences to truths that have remained unseen and unheard. The youth of India have many questions and a deep sense of intrigue about an organization that seems closed to most, as it does not believe in propagating itself or holding press conferences.

The film is presented by Nikhil Nanda and Dhanraj Nathwani, produced by Nikhil Nanda and Sanjay Dutt, and co-produced by Puneet Nanda, Dr. Deepak Singh, Gaurav Dubey, and Ujjwal Anand.(Agency)

Aditya Dhar slams AI ‘turban and smoking’ image linked to ‘Dhurandhar’: Such acts will be dealt with firmly

Mumbai, March 26, 2026

Filmmaker Aditya Dhar has strongly condemned the circulation of AI-generated and morphed visuals related to his latest film ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, calling them “false, misleading and malicious.”

Dhar took to his Aditya Dhar Films Instagram page on Thursday morning and shared a note, where he first expressed gratitude for the overwhelming response to the film and then shared that certain individuals are manipulating officially released promotional material using artificial intelligence to spread misinformation.

“I am deeply grateful & indebted for the overwhelming love that Dhurandhar The Revenge has received from audiences across the country and the world,” Dhar wrote.

“However, it has come to my attention that certain individuals are circulating manipulated visuals, by morphing officially released promotional material using artificial intelligence to create false and misleading narratives.”

The director clarified that a viral image showing Ranveer Singh’s character, Hamza/Jaskirat, smoking while wearing a turban is completely fabricated and does not belong to the film or any official content.

“One such fabricated image falsely depicts the character Hamza/Jaskirat smoking while wearing a turban. This is completely untrue and does not form part of the film or any official material released by us.”

He termed it as a deliberate act of misrepresentation.

“It is a deliberate act of misrepresentation intended to provoke and create mischief.

Dhar further underlined his deep respect for the Sikh community, asserting that every portrayal in the film has been handled with “utmost sensitivity, dignity, and responsibility.”

He added that any attempt to suggest otherwise through doctored content is “malicious and dishonest.”

“Let me state this unequivocally: I hold the highest respect for the Sikh community, and every portrayal in the film has been handled with utmost sensitivity, dignity, and responsibility. Any attempt to suggest otherwise through any doctored content is malicious and dishonest.”

“I urge audiences to rely only on official content and watch the film as it is intended, and not fall prey to AI-generated misinformation being circulated with ulterior motives.”

He also warned that such acts would be dealt strictly.

“Such acts will be dealt with firmly.”

Dhurandhar: The Revenge was released recently. It follows an undercover Indian intelligence agent who continues to infiltrate Karachi’s criminal syndicates and Pakistani politics while avenging the 26/11 attacks and confronting bigger threats.

The film’s storyline draws loosely on real-life geopolitical events and conflicts in South Asia, including Operation Lyari, the 2014 Indian general election, the 2016 Indian banknote demonetisation, and other events.(Agency)

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