Highlights: Delhi records 509 new Covid cases; positivity rate rises to 27%

Delhi Wednesday recorded 509 Covid-19 cases at a positivity rate of 26.54 per cent.

Maharashtra on Wednesday reported slight dip in Covid cases with 569 infections in 24 hours. The tally is less than yesterday’s total of 711 infections in a single day. Two new deaths were reported today, the state government data reported.

Actor-politician Prakash Raj on Wednesday expressed shock over leading Kannada actor Kichcha Sudeep extending support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates in the upcoming Karnataka assembly elections. Sudeep Sanjeev, popularly known as Kichcha Sudeep, announced that he will campaign for chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and the names suggested by him, giving “star power” to the ruling BJP’s campaign for the May 10 Assembly elections.

Abdul Kavi, accused in BSP MLA Raju Pal murder, surrenders in the CBI court . He was absconding for the past 18 years.

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Awards for the year 2023 at the second Civil Investiture Ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife were welcomed with military honours, tributes and praise in Poland on Wednesday at the start of a state visit meant as a gesture of thanks by Kyiv to its neighbour for its crucial support in Ukraine’s defence against Russia’s invasion.

Officials of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) today resumed the rescue operation on Jawaharlal Nehru road in East Sikkim, where a massive avalanche came yesterday, claiming the lives of at least seven people and leaving several trapped under the snow.

Congress Central Election Committee (CEC) meeting regarding the upcoming Karnataka Assembly Elections is underway at the AICC office in Delhi.

After prominent Kannada film actor Sudeep Sanjeev, popularly known as Kichcha Sudeep, announced that he would campaign for the BJP in the forthcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress MP Randeep Surjewala mocked Sudeep’s show of support and said: “6.5 crore Kannadigas will determine the Karnataka elections, not actors.”

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Three people were killed when a speeding car overturned in Barmer district of Rajasthan, police said on Wednesday.

Patiala House Court granted 8 days custody of gangster Deepak Boxer to Delhi Police’s special cell, ANI reported.

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea filed by 14 opposition parties, led by the Congress, alleging arbitrary use of central probe agencies against political opponents.

Delhi’s Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday extended the judicial custody of Manish Sisodia in the money laundering case till April 17.

Rouse Avenue court fixed April 12 for further arguments on the bail plea of Manish Sisodia in money laundering case related to the Delhi Excise policy case.

The Supreme Court is hearing a plea filed  by 14 opposition parties, led by the Congress, alleging arbitrary use of central probe agencies against political opponents.

Delhi Police van outside Patiala Court carrying gangster Deepak Boxer

Delhi Police Special Cell team detained gangster Deepak Boxer in Mexico with the help of FBI. He was absconding in many cases including murder of a builder in Delhi’s Civil Lines.

A horrific incident has come into light in Jharkhand’s Bokaro wherein a man allegedly beat his wife to death after being stopped from drinking. The deceased woman is said to be his 12th wife.

Lok Sabha proceedings has been adjourned for the day amid sloganeering by Opposition on Adani issue.

Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day and it is scheduled to meet on April 6.

The troops of border security force (BSF) have recovered 12 kg of heroin in two separate operations at the India-Pakistan border in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts.

The ministry of home affairs on Wednesday issued an advisory to all states ahead of Hanuman Jayanti. The advisory stated that governments should ensure the maintenance of law and order, peaceful observance of the festival. 

Israeli police arrested more than 350 people after clashes erupted inside Jerusalem’s flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque early Wednesday, according to news agency AFP reports.

Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) of the customs department has on Wednesday seized 4800 grams of gold worth ₹2.10 crores at Kochi airport in three instances in the last 12 hours, ANI reported.

A team of Kerala police have arrived at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi to visit the residence of the Kozhikode train fire incident suspect, Shahrukh Saifi, ANI reported.

All the opposition parties will march tomorrow with the tricolour flag from Parliament House to Vijay Chowk and if permission is granted, to the Constitution Club and will hold a joint press conference at Vijay Chowk or Constitution Club, ANI reported ciitng sources.

Rajya Sabha proceedings has been adjourned till 2 pm amid protests by opposition MPs over Adani issue.

Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed Malayalam channel MediaOne’s plea challenging the Kerala High Court order which upheld the order of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to revoke the license of the news channel.

“National security can’t be raised to deny people their rights…it was raised by the MHA in a cavalier manner in this case,” SC said.

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2.00 PM amid opposition MPs raising slogans demanding a JPC probe on Adani stocks issue

Supreme Court allows Media One’s plea challenging the Kerala High Court order which upheld the order of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to revoke the license of the news channel.

SC says an independent press is important for functioning of society.

After India outrightly rejected China’s attempt to rename places of Arunachal Pradesh, Beijing on Tuesday claimed its “sovereignty” over the region.

In a regular press conference, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning on Tuesday said, “Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh) is part of China’s territory. In accordance with relevant stipulations of the administration of geographical names of the State Council, competent authorities of the Chinese government have standardised the names of some parts of Zangnan. This is within China’s sovereign rights.”

Enforcement Directorate to file a supplementary complaint in the money laundering case against conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and actor Jacqueline Fernandez.

Delhi: Rahul Gandhi was disqualified…one of Gujarat’s parliament member was sentenced to 3 years… his membership was revived…but a person who is speaking truth is not allowed in parliament.. quite visible who is putting pressure: Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Bengaluru | In the next 10 days, many people will be joining the BJP. The people of Karnataka want a double-engine government in the state. BJP will form majority government in Karnataka: LR Shivarame Gowdam (JD(S) expelled former MP from Mandya), who joined BJP on Wednesday in the presence of party’s state chief Nalinkumar Kateel

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha gives suspension of business notice to discuss “huge losses incurred by farmers across the country on account of damage to standing crops due to unseasonal rainfall and the need for a special package by Government of India to compensate the farmers”.

COVID19 | India reports 4,435 new cases in 24 hours; Active caseload at 23,091

Telangana | BJP State General Secretary Bangaru Shruthi has moved a Habeas Corpus petition in High Court over the detention of state BJP president & MP Bandi Sanjay: Rachna Reddy, HC advocate & BJP spokesperson

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) provides ‘Z+’ category CRPF security cover to former PDP leader and President of J&K Apni Party, Altaf Bukhari, reports ANI

The suspect in the Kozhikode train fire incident has been nabbed by police from Maharashtra, reports ANI

The suspect had poured petrol on a passenger & set fire inside the D1 compartment of the Alappuzha-Kannur Main Executive Express train near Elathoor in Kozhikode district. Three people lost their lives in the incident.

BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav has given Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha over damage caused to crops due to unseasonal rainfall in Uttar Pradesh and other parts of the country

CPI MP P Santosh Kumar gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha and demands from the government to provide statehood to UT of Puducherry

Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives adjournment motion notice to discuss “government failure in constituting a JPC to investigate charges of fraud, corruption & financial mismanagement of Adani group”

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manish Tewari gives adjournment motion notice to discuss the “reported procurement of Pegasus-like surveillance equipment by the Government”.

Two people suffered injuries after a private bus carrying 50 passengers from Ajmer overturned at Rajokri in Delhi today, reports ANI

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pramod Tiwari gives suspension of business notice under Rule 267 to discuss the need to constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) in the Adani stocks issue.

The US has recognised Arunachal Pradesh as an integral part of India and strongly opposes any unilateral attempts to advance territorial claims by renaming localities, the White House has said.

French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed China on the phone on Tuesday and mentioned their willingness to engage Beijing to accelerate the end of the war in Ukraine, the Elysee Palace said on Wednesday.

Ukraine’s armed forces said they had repelled 45 Russian attacks during the past 24 hours as fighting raged in and around the city of Bakhmut, while Washington pledged more weapons to help Kyiv prepare for a spring counteroffensive.

This is the first time (a criminal) has been brought from a place like Mexico. The Special Cell of Delhi Police was following him (Gangster Deepak Boxer) for several months. There is no other bigger gangster in Delhi-NCR than this: HGS Dhaliwal, Special CP, Delhi Police

A tick virus that can cause meningitis-like symptoms has been detected in several areas in England, with the UK Health Security Agency advising changes to testing in hospitals to prevent it spreading.

Israeli police said early Wednesday they had entered the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem to dislodge “agitators”.

Denouncing the move as “an unprecedented crime”, the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas called on Palestinians in the West Bank “to go en masse to the Al-Aqsa mosque to defend it”, reported AFP

Several rockets fired from Gaza Strip towards Israel, reports AFP 

Nalanda, Bihar: Police is conducting Sadbhavna Yatra and raids to restore normalcy in violence-hit Bihar Sharif

The property of the accused will be attached. 130 arrests have been made so far. Raids are on. Efforts are being made to normalise the situation through Sadbhavna Yatra: Ashok Mishra, SP Nalanda, to ANI

A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck off Panama’s Pacific coast on Tuesday, the US Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of fatalities or damage.

Ahead of Karnataka Assembly elections, popular Kannada movie stars, Sudeep (Kiccha Sudeep) and Darshan Tugudeepa are likely to join BJP on Wednesday, reports ANI

Telangana BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar was detained after midnight on Wednesday from his residence in Karimnagar ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state.