NGT constitutes joint committee to probe Moshi tragedy that claimed 9 lives

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has initiated a three-member committee to investigate the July 8 collapse of a waste mound at the Moshi Waste-to-Energy (WTE) project in Pimpri-Chinchwad, which resulted in nine fatalities. The committee is required to report within a month, addressing environmental concerns raised by the applicants regarding safety and regulatory violations. Background details include the consent issued to a waste management company and allegations of improper construction practices.

Delhi police to probe violence against cops in CJP protest, 11 FIRs filed

Delhi Police's special cell and crime branch will investigate the violence against security personnel during the Cockroach Janta Party's protests, with 129 officers injured since July 20. Eleven FIRs have been filed for serious charges, including rioting and robbery. The special cell is probing a broader conspiracy, while the crime branch focuses on arrests related to the violence.

HC seeks report from Delhi govt, MCD on removal of stray dogs

The Delhi High Court has requested a report from the Delhi government and Municipal Corporation on their compliance with the Supreme Court's directives regarding the removal of stray dogs from public spaces due to rising dog bite incidents. The ongoing conflict between dog lovers and those fearing for public safety has prompted this attention, linked to the 2025 Supreme Court ruling.

Only 41 per cent of Delhi voter revision forms digitised so far

New Delhi's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls shows only 40.96% of distributed forms have been digitised by July 23, with nearly 59% still pending. While 14.5 million forms were distributed, digitisation rates vary significantly across districts, with Outer North leading at 55.62%. This phase, started June 30, concludes August 8, highlighting a critical lag in updating electoral data.

Centre splits MoHUA into capital, urban development departments

The Union government has restructured the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, creating two new departments: capital development and urban development, effective immediately as per a Gazette notification. The capital development department will manage the National Capital Region and key infrastructure, while urban development will focus on policies regarding housing, urban transport, and poverty alleviation. Background changes include personnel shifts among top officials and the transfer of the Department of Stationery and Printing to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board gave nod to women cash dole scheme ‘in haste’

The Punjab Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board hastily approved the Mukh Mantri Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojana on June 6, raising concerns over potential misuse of a ₹2,000-crore welfare fund. The Punjab and Haryana high court has intervened, citing legal issues with diverting funds from workers' welfare to a new scheme aimed at women ahead of the assembly polls.

City reports 12 cyber fraud cases in 24 hours

Twelve cyber fraud cases were reported in Pune on Wednesday, with a single incident resulting in a loss of ₹53.10 lakh due to a fraudulent investment scheme. Investigations revealed multiple mule bank accounts used for laundering funds, involving amounts from ₹34.10 lakh to ₹4.78 lakh. Authorities urge citizens to verify investment platforms' legitimacy to prevent such scams.

CBI nabs IRCTC official, hospitality firm director in ₹3.98L bribery case

The CBI has arrested IRCTC executive Tridib Banerjee and hospitality firm director Amar Thakkar for accepting ₹3.98 lakh in bribes to clear bills for onboard catering services on Tejas trains. Investigations revealed cash seizures and incriminating chats. The duo, linked to a Mumbai contract, faces charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act amid ongoing inquiries into further accomplices.

Ghaziabad: Man held for murder of friend over restaurant dispute

A Gurugram restaurateur, 36, has been detained for allegedly conspiring to murder his childhood friend, 35, initially reported as shot by unknown assailants in Ghaziabad. Inconsistencies in his statement led police to suspect motive linked to a restaurant dispute. The police are investigating his two accomplices involved in the shooting, with a post-mortem pending.

Noida residents sent notices to remove drain encroachment

Noida's authority has issued notices to homeowners blocking drains with cement or tile coverings, necessitating their removal by Friday to enable de-silting and prevent dangerous waterlogging during rains. This action follows site inspections revealing widespread encroachment in Sector 19. Residents criticize the timing of the enforcement, urging proactive measures before the monsoon season.

Five coaching centres sealed in Greater Noida over fire safety lapses

Five coaching institutes in Greater Noida were sealed for failing to meet fire safety requirements, despite a two-week compliance deadline. Inspections are ongoing, led by a team from the Greater Noida authority and fire department, following government directives to enforce safety norms. Authorities emphasize that non-compliance will result in strict actions, including further closures.

Ghaziabad: Unidentified woman’s body found with throat slit

The Ghaziabad police found the body of an unidentified woman, around 25 years old, in a field in Kazipura, showing signs of having been murdered, with her throat slit. Investigators are working to identify the victim and awaiting a postmortem report to determine details, while multiple police teams have been formed to solve the case.

Over 1 lakh people cut off as heavy rain floods Palghar district

PALGHAR: Torrential rains in Palghar caused severe flooding, isolating over 100,000 residents as dams overflowed, prompting emergency evacuations and increased rescue efforts. Authorities reported substantial rainfall, with the Kawdas weather station recording 613 mm. Road and rail services were disrupted, leading to train cancellations, while schools remained closed amidst a red alert issued by IMD.

Land near Mahakal Temple sold to firm linked to MP BJP MLA, HC issues notice

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to state officials over the alleged sale of government land near Ujjain’s Mahakal Temple to Ujjain BJP MLA Chintamani Malviya's linked firm for Rs 3.82 crore, although its true value is estimated at Rs 12 crore. A Public Interest Litigation claims the land was misrepresented. Malviya called the case a political conspiracy.

Noida: ₹2.49-cr worth of drugs seized; one held

A joint operation by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO), Delhi Police, and Gautam Budh Nagar officials led to the seizure of pharmaceutical items worth ₹2.49 crore from a Noida flat, resulting in one arrest. The drugs were stored unlawfully, including temperature-sensitive products at improper conditions. Investigations are ongoing regarding their source and legality, with samples taken for analysis.

Ex-MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, wife Pratibha get anticipatory bail in Pune contractor suicide case; no relief for Shedge

A Pune sessions court granted anticipatory bail to former MLA Ravindra Dhangekar and his wife Pratibha in a suicide abetment case linked to a contractor, finding no direct business ties to the deceased. The court denied bail to ex-corporator Bala Shedge, citing specific allegations against him in the suicide note. The case has roots in financial disputes impacting the contractor.

Noida: 2 women lose ₹64L to cyber frauds

A 43-year-old woman from Noida was allegedly duped of ₹53 lakh in a stock market scam initiated via social media, prompting a police investigation. After engaging with a supposed broker, she made multiple transfers to an app but became suspicious when asked to pay additional fees to withdraw her profits. A secondary case involved a 34-year-old woman defrauded of ₹11.30 lakh by a fraudster posing as a multi-millionaire.

Top lawyer throws weight behind protesting students; legal notice to police

Mumbai lawyer Satish Maneshinde announced his support for students facing criminal charges for protesting against examination paper leaks, arguing that the FIRs lacked legal grounds. He criticized police actions against peaceful demonstrators, stating that students deserve protection when exercising their rights. Several students are under legal threat; Maneshinde offers pro bono representation amid rising concerns over the impact of these proceedings on their futures.

NMRC offers co-branding rights at 12 Aqua Line stations

The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) is offering private firms co-branding rights at 12 Aqua Line stations for 10 years to enhance advertising opportunities and revenue. Key stations, including Pari Chowk and Alpha-1, will feature extensive advertising space. NMRC seeks to improve transit branding quality and will require firms to allocate some space for public awareness campaigns. NMRC aims to deliver a top-tier urban transport system in Noida and Greater Noida.

Cop threatens to plant drugs on protestors; where would he get them, asks oppn

A Mumbai constable, Pawan Sangale, faces a departmental inquiry for allegedly threatening protestors, claiming he could plant drugs on them. The state government is investigating the incident, which has sparked outrage and prompted police embarrassment. Protestors gathered at Shivaji Park for reforms led by the Cockroach Janta Party, amidst ongoing nationwide protests regarding educational reforms.

Breach of privilege case: Para asked to appear before J&K assembly’s privilege panel

The Jammu and Kashmir assembly panel has summoned PDP legislator Waheed ur Rehman Para for a privilege breach hearing on Friday morning, which he has declined to attend. Accused of making derogatory remarks during the November 2024 session, Para faces a notice based on a complaint from National Conference MLA Nazir Ahmad Gurezi. The nine-member committee, chaired by Justice Hasnain Masoodi, will convene in Srinagar to examine the case.

State govt scraps mandatory bond service for doctors

The Maharashtra government has ended the compulsory one-year MBBS bond service for graduates from state medical colleges and scholarship recipients. This decision addresses the backlog of graduates awaiting postings, thus facilitating their entry into postgraduate courses. While the change is welcome by many, critics argue it neglects systemic issues in rural healthcare and vacant government positions.

Ludhiana: Police imposter held for extortion, toy pistol recovered

A man posing as a CIA staffer and extorting money with a toy pistol was arrested by Khanna police. Lakhvir Singh alias Lucky exploited his father's ties to Punjab home guards to intimidate victims. Police believe he may have duped many who feared reporting. He has previous criminal charges, and a thorough investigation is underway.

Who is Ian Diaz and where is he? Update as Netflix drops ‘A Toxic Love Story’

Netflix's recent documentary "A Toxic Love Story" shines a light on Ian Diaz, a former U.S. Deputy Marshal convicted of orchestrating a cyberstalking scheme with his wife, Angela Connell, against his ex-fiancée, Michelle Hadley, leading to her wrongful arrest. Diaz, sentenced to 10 years in prison, remains incarcerated at FMC Fort Worth. Connell received a five-year sentence.

New medical colleges may no longer need state approval under NMC draft

Mumbai's National Medical Commission (NMC) proposes significant changes to the medical college approval process, eliminating the need for essentiality and no-objection certificates from state governments. Institutions will now require only a valid university Consent of Affiliation and NMC approval. The draft aims to increase accountability and infrastructure standards while addressing the demand for medical education. Public comments are invited.

FDA suspends BMC HQ canteen licence over food safety lapses

The Maharashtra FDA has suspended Kamal Caterers Pvt Ltd's food registration due to unaddressed hygiene violations found in a June inspection, halting operations at the BMC headquarters canteen. Despite internal BMC debates questioning the suspension's severity, the FDA cited ongoing issues, including fly infestations and inadequate food safety protocols. The company may appeal the decision.

Who is Angela Connell Diaz and where is she now?

Netflix's documentary *Toxic Love Story* revives the chilling case of Ian and Angela Connell Diaz, whose relationship devolved into a scandal involving cyberstalking and fraud. Angela, who faked pregnancies and cancer, conspired with Ian to frame his ex, Michelle Hadley, for threatening emails. After pleading guilty in 2017, Angela served five years in prison and is now living discreetly post-release.

Temples need to be freed of State control

India's approach to secularism has blurred the lines between the sacred and the political, particularly regarding temple administration. Historically, temples functioned as civic institutions without direct governmental management, a practice overturned by colonial and modern regulations. Establishing transparency and community governance, rather than bureaucratic control, is essential for genuine secularism and accountability in religious institutions.

11 accident-prone corridors identified in Himachal: Union minister

Union minister Nitin Gadkari identified 11 accident-prone corridors in Himachal Pradesh, as revealed in Lok Sabha following a query from BJP MP Suresh Kashyap. Using the e-DAR system and AI, specific areas were highlighted, prompting short-term safety measures and long-term road improvement projects. Budget allocations for highway development total ₹3,998 crore for 2024-25 and ₹3,832 crore for 2025-26.

Developers booked for using forged PMRDA approvals to sell properties

Pune's Ambegaon police filed a case against multiple developers and partners for allegedly using forged planning permissions and occupancy certificates to facilitate property transactions. The FIR, driven by a complaint from a government official, involves names like Sai Swaraj Developers and Shivai Associates. Investigators are probing the extent of the fraud linked to these forged documents.