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India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
Delhi Police Crime Branch busts godown of illegal Chinese manja in Uttam Nagar
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted a godown in Uttam Nagar's Jivan Park, where illegal Chinese manja was being stored, as per officials. The police on Friday seized a large quantity of illegal Chinese manja, and the godown owner, identified as Raju, was also arrested. In a separate case, the Delhi Police apprehended Areeb Khan, a supplier of illegal Chinese manja, from the Kamla Market area, where he was reportedly supplying the illegal manja to local shopkeepers. A case has been filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections and the Environment Protection Act in both incidents, stated officials. Meanwhile, on June 14, the Delhi Police Crime Branch dismantled an extortion racket targeting transporters and animal traders operating in the Gazipur Mandi transport area. It has arrested three accused and recovered illegal weapons, including single-shot pistols and live rounds, besides two cars and a scooty which was used to carry out criminal activities. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harsh Indora stated that the Anti-Gangster Squad (AGS) had been actively working to curb the activities of criminals and extortionists operating in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). As per the Delhi Police release, intelligence inputs indicated that a group led by Pawan Kumar was systematically intimidating and extorting money from transporters and animal traders in the mandi area. Acting on a tip-off about the movement of a criminal from the group identified as Ravinder Kumar, the police laid a trap at Kakrola Nala Road. Ravinder, who was intercepted in a car, was found in possession of an illegal single-shot pistol and one live round. A case under Section 25 of the Arms Act has been registered at the Crime Branch police station. During interrogation, Ravinder Kumar revealed that Pawan Kumar facilitated the distribution of firearms to gang members to carry out extortion activities. Pawan Kumar was subsequently apprehended, and a loaded single-shot pistol was recovered from him. Pawan Kumar confessed to the police of having recruited over eight individuals into his syndicate, tasking them with identifying and intercepting transporters and animal traders along various routes. The extorted money was often collected through online payments from animal traders. According to police, the gang intimidated victims by threatening them with action from an organisation that works to prevent cruelty to animals. The accused also revealed the names and mobile numbers of several victims, who are being traced as part of the investigation. (ANI)
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Punjab lost 1.13% geographical area under forest cover, 0.28% under tree cover in 22 years
BATHINDA: Punjab has lost 1.13 percent of the geographical area under forest cover and 0.28 percent of the geographical area under tree cover in the last 22 years. The forest cover, which was 4.80 percent of the geographical area in 2001, decreased to 3.67% of the geographical area in 2023, while the tree cover, which was 3.20% of the geographical area in 2001, decreased to 2.92% of the geographical area in 2023. Combined together the forest and tree cover deceased to 6.59% of the geographical area in 2023 from 8% in 2001 as per the Indian state of forest report (ISFR 2023). Punjab' Principal Chief Conservator of forests (HoFF) Dharminder Sharma produced the data in an affidavit before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in a petition arising out of a news item 'India lost 2.33 million hectares of tree cover since 2000: Global Forest Watch' appeared in a section of press on April 13, 2024. The NGT taking suo-motu notice of the news item had issued notice to Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board; Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest; Director, Survey of India for filing response and directed Director, Survey of India to submit a report showing the position of forest cover in India with specific reference to northeast from the year 2000 onwards with each five year interval covering the period up to March, 2024. It stated that the matter indicates violation of the provisions of Forest Conservation Act, 1980; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment Protection Act, 1986. During the last hearing on May 9, 2025, NGT had impleaded Secretary, Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, as respondents. After being impleaded as respondent, Principal chief conservator of forests, head of forest force (HoFF) filed the affidavit on May 27, 2025, which was uploaded by NGT on Monday. As per the affidavit, the forest cover was recorded as 2432 square km in 2001 which was recorded at 1846.09 sq km in 2023 while tree cover which was recorded at 1634 sq km in 2001 was recorded at 1475.15 sq km in 2023. The decrease was recorded as 1.13 per centage of the geographical area in forest cover and 0.28 per cent in tree cover.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- Hindustan Times
2 arrested for selling counterfeit Bisleri water in Delhi
Two men were arrested on Thursday for selling bottled water with counterfeit Bisleri branding from a factory in northwest Delhi's Shakurpur area, police said on Sunday, adding that they have so far sold thousands of bottles and jars in markets, bus stands and near railway stations in Delhi and neighbouring states. The accused Sikander Lal, 30, and Ashish Ram, 19, were held after a raid on their factory. (Representational image) The accused Sikander Lal, 30, and Ashish Ram, 19, were held after a raid on their factory, where they made stickers, bottle caps, and generated barcodes to make the jars look genuine. They filled the bottles with regular tap water and borewell water, police said. The matter came to light after a complaint was filed by representatives of the brand. Deputy commissioner of police (northwest) Bhisham Singh said the duo had been operating a Bisleri counterfeit product manufacturing unit for a year. 'It was a systematic operation. They had heater guns for pasting stickers on the bottles. We found them manufacturing counterfeit bottle material and were also engaged in placing fake labels and tags of reputed branded companies. They further used these counterfeit materials to sell the products such as bottled water in the market, falsely presenting them as genuine items of the respective brands. This illegal activity not only violated trademark laws but also posed a risk to public health and consumer trust,' he said. The machines and heaterguns used in the illegal activity along with 127 sticker plates, 55 bottle caps, 387 barcode sheets and over 26 water jars of 20 litre have been seized, police said During interrogation, the accused told police that the manufacturing unit was established last year. Further, the two were working with a man who was involved in supplying borewell water illegally. Police said he has been identified as Vishal Gupta and action under Environment Protection Act is being taken against him.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
NGT takes suo motu cognisance of environmental degradation of Nagpur's Futala Lake
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report highlighting the declining condition of Futala Lake in Maharashtra's Nagpur. A bench, headed by judicial member Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi, registered an original application suo motu (on its own) following a news item titled "Futala Lake's charm fades amid neglect and poor maintenance". Referring to the news article, the Bench, also comprising expert member A. Senthil Vel, noted that the lake, once a popular spot for locals, now faces hygiene issues and environmental degradation due to neglect and poor maintenance. The news item also highlighted that the absence of functional public toilets has led visitors to resort to unhygienic alternatives, and the lake's shore is covered with trash like flower garlands and plastic bags, causing a foul smell. "[D]espite efforts by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to prevent the immersion of idols and religious offerings, enforcement remains weak, resulting in continued pollution,' noted the NGT in its order passed on June 5. The green body said the matter highlighted in the news item attracted the provisions of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2016. Saying that the power of the NGT to take up the matter suo motu has been recognised by the Supreme Court, the Justice Tyagi-led Bench impleaded the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation as respondent parties to the matter. "Let notices be issued to the respondents for filing their response/reply by way of affidavit," ordered the green tribunal, transferring the matter for further hearing on August 6 before the Western Zone Bench. It said that since the place of accrual of the cause of action lies within the jurisdiction of the Pune's Western Zone Bench, the case should be further heard there. "Accordingly, the Registry is directed to list the matter before the Western Zone Bench of this Tribunal at Pune on 06.08.2025 after obtaining orders from Hon'ble the Chairperson for transfer of the case, if so required," the NGT ordered. It added that responses may be filed by the authorities before the Western Zone Bench of the green tribunal at least one week before the next date of hearing.
India Gazette
22-06-2025
- India Gazette
Delhi Police arrests 2 in Bisleri bottle racket
New Delhi [India], June 22 (ANI): North West District's Delhi Police arrested two individuals in a Bisleri bottle racket and seized a large quantity of fake packaging material and equipment. The arrested have been identified as Sikander (30) and Ashish (19), both residents of Shakurpur. The police recovered 127 counterfeit Bisleri stickers, 387 counterfeit barcodes, 20 litres of bottles, 26 counterfeit Bisleri labels, and seven heater guns and lighters. A complaint was received from Bisleri representatives regarding the illegal manufacturing and sale of counterfeit Bisleri bottles. Upon receiving information, a team of officers investigated the counterfeiters and in a raid conducted arrested two individuals. The accused individuals have been charged under the Copyright Act. Additionally, action has been initiated against Vishal Gupta under the Environment Protection Act for supplying water for the manufacturing process. Further investigation is underway. Earlier on June 20, the Delhi Police arrested a man for duping people by posing as a customer care executive of a credit card delivery service and sending malicious APK files to gain unauthorised access to their devices. According to the police, a complaint was received on April 17 in which the complainant stated that he had applied for a new SBI credit card, which was scheduled to be delivered to his residence. However, when the delivery agent arrived, the complainant was not at home, and the card could not be delivered. Subsequently, the complainant searched online for the customer care number of the delivery app and contacted a number that appeared on the search. He requested that the credit card be delivered to a new address. The person on the other end of the call asked him to make a payment of Rs 5 for the rescheduled delivery and sent him a malicious APK file to facilitate the transaction. After downloading the file, the complainant attempted to make the payment but was unsuccessful. Shortly afterwards, he discovered that an amount of Rs 50,000 had been fraudulently deducted from his account. It was later established that the accused had posed as a customer care representative and defrauded the complainant. Following a preliminary inquiry, a case was registered and an investigation was launched. The investigation was conducted meticulously, analysing all key facts and technical details. The complainant provided screenshots of transactions made, revealing that the amount was deducted via UPI and sent to an alleged UPI ID. With the assistance of the technical investigation, the accused person was identified as Asad Ali Abbas, a resident of Chittaranjan Avenue, Kolkata. Based on sustained surveillance, a raid was conducted in Chittaranjan Park, Kolkata, and Abbas was apprehended. During interrogation, Asad Ali Abbas admitted to his involvement in sending malicious APK files to victims, gaining remote access to their devices, and committing cybercrimes. One mobile phone, allegedly used in the commission of the crime, was recovered from the accused. The investigation revealed the modus operandi of the accused, and a further probe is underway to uncover any potential accomplices or additional crimes. (ANI)
