NEW DELHI: Twenty-two-year-old Naved Khan, a resident of Laxmi Nagar here, recently received a WhatsApp message on his mobile phone which read, "Will you romance with me? Reply Yes/No."

Seconds after responding with a "Yes", he got a video call from a girl who introduced herself as Pooja from Agra.

"She started undressing and asked me to take off my trousers. I didn't remove them completely but she made a recording. Later, I received a WhatsApp message that they have made my recording and are going to put it on social media sites," Khan wrote in his complaint to the police.

He added, "Out of fear, I uninstalled WhatsApp and deleted all my social media accounts. But the next day I got a call from someone who introduced himself as an officer of Delhi Police's cyber cell. He said that he has a complaint against me based on which he was going to issue a warrant."

The fraudster asked him to make a video call for which Khan reinstalled WhatsApp and spoke to him. He then asked Khan to contact one Monu Panchal who would help him get his video deleted. When Khan called Panchal, he demanded Rs 21,800 to get the job done. He also promised that the money would be returned later.

"He gave me an account number of Axis Bank which was in the name of Jatin Kukreja. I transferred the money but was then asked to deposit the same amount three more times totalling Rs 64,500 as three more videos had to be deleted. I was given another account of HDFC bank which was in the name of Ramgopal," Khan said in his complaint which has been converted into an FIR by police.

Sometime later, Khan again got a call from Panchal who said that he had written an email to the cyber cell officer to process his case and that he should talk to him.

"When I called the cyber cell officer, he demanded Rs 1.5 lakh more. Upon my request, he reduced the amount and I paid the money. But he kept on asking for more money," Khan said, adding that he had no option but to report the matter to police.

According to the cyber cell, the matter is being probed and efforts are on to identify the criminals. Investigators say that luring innocent people by showing recorded obscene videos has become a common modus operandi of cybercriminals.

A gang of cybercriminals, who used to blackmail people by making obscene video calls, was busted in Shahdara on March 27, officials said.

Rohit Meena, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shahdara District said instead of getting into the trap of such gangs out of fear of being shamed on social media, people should immediately report such matters to authorities.

Here’s our round-up of the latest gadgets that are a perfect addition to your shopping list

STAY CONNECTED
Netgear’s Orbi 863 RBK863 comes with an upgraded antenna design for better Wi-Fi performance along with a 10Gb ethernet port for multi-gig Internet connections and a year of Netgear Armor for security. The Mesh system is designed to keep connections running at max speeds. It provides up to 8,000 sq ft of coverage at up to 6Gbps speeds and support for 100 devices operating simultaneously.  in.netgear.com

BIG DISPLAY, BETTER FEATURES
You’ll love Gizmore’s Vogue—it is a unique smartwatch—if you’re a fan of large display smartwatches with an ‘Ultra’ look to them. The 1.95” display is a sight to behold with up to 600 nits of brightness, while the watch looks rugged on the wrist. Vogue also comes with BT calling, wireless charging, and tracking features for health, sleep and activities. Battery life is great. To add further value, the watch comes in a choice of three strap options. gizmore.in

SAFE AND SMART
Torch makes systems/sensors that detect fires. The Torch Fire sensor has multiple IR and visible cameras as well as gas sensors to detect the smallest of fires with high accuracy even across acres of land. Early warning can help save lives, property, and belongings. torchsensors.com

The launch story of city-based indie boy band Twin Strings can be included in the passion-turned-profession category. Twin brothers Sagar (guitarist) and Sahil (keyboardist and lyricist) founded the band during their engineering days in 2017. The duo was later joined by Manav (vocalist and lyricist) and Mohit Deen (percussionist), who completed their quartet. 

The band’s music is made up of a number of love ballads—their popular 2019 track, Dhalti Rahe; Doorie (2021), which is a heartfelt love song; and Baat Itni Si Hai (2022), with a recently released unplugged version. Twin Strings have collaborated with other artistes including Nupur Sanon, Pavitra Krishnan, and others. 

In this edition of Soundscape, we speak to the musical quartet about their sound and influences, and more.

Take us through your journey… How did the four of you meet?
Sagar: Our journey started back in college. Sahil is my twin brother and we would make music (and music videos) for fun. Soon, many friends started appreciating them. That is when Mohit—our cousin 
who used to often come to Delhi—joined our band, and we would make sure to post our music on YouTube. Later, others [they knew of wanted to join in. We thought, why not collaborate with more friends? 

It was during this phase of collaboration when we met Manav; we did one of our first collaborations—the song was called Raabta. That is how our journey started, and now we are here.  We are always together, travelling to multiple cities and countries [for gigs and concerts], and it is so 
much fun. 

What inspired you to start creating original music along with covers?
Manav: We always had a thing for creating original music. Even when we were performing covers, we were certain that we wanted to create our own music. It was only a matter of time before we wrote our own songs and released them.

Tell us about the band’s musical style and influences.Do you have a favourite musician?
Sahil: Since we are four members, everybody has a very different taste in music, so it is a combination of everything. But we are really into experimenting when it comes to our music. We are inspired by Coldplay. 

What was the inspiration behind your latest song Aise Ho Tum, which was released in January this year? Also, how does it differ from your previous work?
Manav: It was actually written way back—it is one of the very first songs that we wrote. I think there is a very nice way to summarise this song with a couple of lines from the song itself: “Ek pal na laga khud ko khone main, ek pal na laga tere hone se.” It is about the feeling of losing yourself in love. So, that was the inspiration behind the song Aise Ho Tum. It is a soft song, almost like a lullaby. In fact, I think Aise Ho Tum is the softest song that we have made till date, and unintentionally. I think that’s how it differs [from other songs they’ve made]. Many listeners have said that the song brings a lot of peace to them.

The song Baat Itni Si Hai, which you released in 2022, was very well-received. Tell us about creating it.
Mohit: Our music is the pure emotion of our feelings—that is why all our songs are different from others. Doorie (2021) is more mellow, while Baarish ka Asar (2020) has a happy, cute vibe. But somewhere, we feel our forte is acoustic music, and that is what each and every listener of ours connects to the most. So, we might stick to this genre for a while for most of our tracks. But, there are a few peppy numbers in the pipeline, and we look forward to exploring more genres in the future.

TRACK - BAAT ITNI SI HAI - Unplugged
BAND - TWIN STRINGS

Bajaj Auto has launched two new variants of its Naked Sports motorcycle brand—the Pulsar NS series—with segment-first features that define the new avatars of these bikes. The Pulsar NS200 and Pulsar NS160 have new aggressive and muscular styling, and new features for better handling and higher safety, making them the sports motorcycles of choice for enthusiasts. The bikes have been designed for the consummate sports biker, and they come equipped with several advanced features to aid in better handling, higher performance, and greater safety.

One of the standout features of the new Pulsar NS series is the segment-first upside-down forks that allow fast cornering and agile handling, which is critical for naked sports bikes. The display console has been 
updated to include a gear position indicator, distance-to-empty readout, instantaneous fuel economy, and average fuel economy. Bajaj Auto’s patented Triple Spark DTS-i 4V engine produces the best-in-class power of 18kW (24.5PS) and 18.74Nm of torque in the NS200 model, delivering a class-leading power-to-weight ratio.

Both the NS200 and NS160 come equipped with dual-channel ABS, providing best-in-class stopping 
power and ultra-safe braking on any surface. The brakes on the NS160 have been made bigger than their 
previous version, and wider front and rear tyres have been included to give better stability and control. 

The bikes have been redesigned to enhance the aggressive, muscular styling that the NS series is known for. The riding stance is forward-biased and fully engages the rider in the thrill of riding an NS bike on the track and streets.

The Pulsar NS200 is attractively priced at Rs 1,47,347 

NEW DELHI: The first quarter of 2023 has seen the highest number of “good” to “moderate” air days in the last six years, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Friday. The central body said that from 17 in 2017, the days with “good” and “moderate” AQI climbed to 35 this year based on data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The comparison was done during the period of January 1 and March 31 from 2017 to 2013. However, 2020 was not taken into the comparative tabulation due to very low anthropogenic, industrial and commercial activities during the Covid-19 lockdown. Meanwhile, the CAQM also said that a significant year-on-year decline in the days of “poor” to “severe” AQI was noted in the same period.

According to the central body, the days of “poor” and “severe” days, between January 1 and March 31, reduced to 55 in 2023 from 77 in 2017. “Persistent coordinated field-level efforts by various stakeholders and implementing agencies and targeted initiatives in the short/ medium/ long term are expected to see a gradual but marked improvement in air quality,” the CAQM said in a statement.

The number of “good” to “moderate” air days for the first quarter in 2017 was 17; in 2018 was 24; in 2019 was 32; in 2020 was 38; in 2021 was 13; in 2022 was 27; and in 2023 are 35, according to the official data. Meanwhile, the number of “poor” to “severe” air days for the first quarter in 2017 was 73; in 2018 was 66; in 2019 was 58; in 2020 was 52; in 2021 was 77; in 2022 was 63; and in 2023 are 55.

NEW DELHI: Going by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, parts of the national capital are yet again expected to receive a shower of rain accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning on Saturday with the maximum temperature likely to settle at 30 degrees Celsius.

The IMD issued a ‘yellow’ alert for thunderstorms and lightning on April 1 and April 3-4 as a fresh western disturbance is likely to affect Northwest India from the night of April 2. The rainfall in the past few days has kept the temperature from surging. Even on Friday, the city witnessed a trace of rainfall in some parts and the maximum temperature was recorded three notches below normal at 28.5 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature was recorded to be 16.8 degrees Celsius.

According to IMD, in the past nine hours ending at 5.30 pm on March 31, the capital registered 0.1 mm of rainfall. The humidity oscillated between 100 per cent and 56 per cent. The weather department has predicted a generally cloudy sky with very light rain and thundershowers in one or two places for Saturday. “The maximum and minimum temperature would be around 30 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively,” the IMD said.

Meanwhile, due to unexpected rains on Thursday evening, at least 22 flights were delayed in the process from Indira Gandhi International Airport due to a thunderstorm. Out of the 22 flights eleven were diverted to Lucknow, eight to Jaipur, one to Dehradun, one to Ahmedabad and one to Chandigarh. Airlines had sent out a travel advisory to passengers regarding the diversions and delays.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Congress leaders on Friday paid tribute to the three-time chief minister of Delhi late Shiela Dikshit on her 85th birth anniversary. At the state-party headquarter in Delhi, her son Sandeep Dikshit along with Delhi- Congress president Anil Kumar Chaudhary and national spokesperson Pawan Khera paid floral tribute to Sheila Dikshit. 

Senior Congress functionaries, including former MLA Alka Lamba, communication head Anil Bhardwaj, Kiran Walia and others also paid rich tributes to her. “During her 15 years tenure as Delhi CM, Sheila Dikshit made all-around development of the capital city. She improved the infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and metro connectivity in Delhi, “ said Anil Choudhary. 

He further added that Sheila Dikshit had uplifted the lives of poor and middle-class citizens of Delhi, which in turn increased the per capita income of the city. “Her contribution to Delhi’s development will never be forgotten. Being CM of Delhi, She completely changed the city. She will be known as the ‘architect’ of modern Delhi,” added Choudhary. 

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to remember the former CM Sheila Dikshit on her birth anniversary. “Remembering former chief minister of Delhi Smt. Sheila Dikshit ji on her birth anniversary today.” wrote Kejriwal in a tweet. 

NEW DELHI: The Kejriwal Government’s Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) will launch five new schools of Science and Social Science from the academic session 2023-24 as part of the institution’s expansion project.

The new schools will offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Public Policy, Mathematics and Data Science, Indigenous Knowledge and Tribal Studies, Media Studies, and Philosophy and Religion Studies.

The Education Minister Atishi held a review meeting with officials from the higher education department and AUD to discuss the development of the new schools.

Speaking about the expansion of AUD and new schools, Atishi said, “The addition of these new schools at AUD is a positive step towards improving the quality of higher education in India and preparing students as per rapidly changing industrial demands. Programmes offered by AUD will especially focus on developing new age 21st-century skills among students.”

She added that the programmes to be offered by the new schools are being designed in consultation with experts from the respective field, which will help in bridging the gap between academic research and practical applications.

Atishi further added that the new schools would raise the benchmark for innovative higher education in India and promote diversity and innovation in the field of higher education. The specialized programmes will equip students with specialized knowledge and skills that are in demand in today’s job market. In addition, the new schools will incorporate 21st-century skills into their curriculum, including critical thinking.

NEW DELHI: Taking a cue from educational institutes in India and abroad, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is planning to build a museum of archives to preserve the momentous memories of the apex institute and showcase its journey from starting as a mere hospital to turning into a top healthcare institution of the country.

According to an office memorandum (OM), the institute has set up a committee for the collection, maintenance and establishment of the “Museum of Archives” at the hospital. “These archives are a witness to the past and explain historical actions and rationale behind current decisions. They assist the coming generations in adapting to the Institute’s culture and align their objectives with those of the organization,” the institute said in the OM.

Officials said that the committee members will reach out to all previous directors and retired faculty members and would interview them to register their achievements, which have been a part of the institute’s legacy. “Apart from the interview, the outreach exercise will also include sharing (on request) the mementoes and acknowledgement, of all those who have been a crucial part of the AIIMS’ history, they received for their extraordinary work in the field of medical science while being associated with the institute,” a senior official said.

“The archives will be maintained at the institute’s library while the path-breaking achievements will be part of the museum. Besides, all the archives will be digitized and hosted on the official website of the AIIMS,” he added.

Officials said that the move was taken after observing that many prominent educational institutes have built a museum which tells their history, evolution and the legacy they have established.  

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police yet again detained and allegedly manhandled the activists of the Students’ Federation of India and other progressive organizations protesting against the harassment of women students of IPCW, three days ago.

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) DU called for a protest against harassment of women students at the Indraprastha College for Women (IPCW) festival, which took place on March 28, 2023. Several men had reportedly jumped the walls of the college campus, barged into the IPCW women’s college during the fest and harassed several women students, and hurled sexist and vulgar sloganeering.

“Despite the distressing incident, the principal hasn’t addressed the matter. However, this is not an isolated incident, as similar incidents have occurred at Miranda House and several other women’s colleges. The authorities’ silence is aiding these men to carry on with such incidents. It is high time that strict action is taken against such acts of harassment,” said one of the students.

SFI DU called for a peaceful protest outside the gate of IPCW in solidarity with the protest happening inside the campus. “However, heavy police deployment at IPCW compelled us to move the protest to Arts Faculty at Delhi University. Even at Arts Faculty, heavy police deployment to curb students’ voices was witnessed. Several SFI activists and other students demanding justice for the women students who were subjected to harassment have been detained by the authorities during a peaceful protest at Arts Faculty, Delhi University. We have been demanding immediate action from the authorities and are asking for the safety and security of women students,” said another SFI supporter.

ALSO READ| Delhi: Drunk men scale Indraprastha College walls, harass girls

One of the DU conveners of SFI DU stated that the organization strongly condemns the incident and demands the authorities take swift action against the perpetrators of this heinous act. The organization stands in solidarity with the students protesting for justice and safety for women students. “We also urge the authorities to take necessary steps to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future and that the safety and security of women students are guaranteed on college campuses across the country,” the convener further added. 

NEW DELHI: Amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday that the Delhi government is conducting genome sequencing of all positive samples and random testing is being done for 2% of travellers at the Delhi Airport.

Kejriwal conducted a high-level meeting to review the Covid-19 preparations in terms of hospital beds, oxygen capacity, testing, and prevention measures. Delhi Ministers Saurabh Bhardwaj and Kailash Gahlot, Chief Secretary and officials concerned with various departments participated in the meeting.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal emphasised that the situation is under control and there is no need to panic. “For now, there is no government mandate to wear masks in public places. However, patients with influenza and respiratory diseases have been advised to wear masks,” he cautioned.

Speaking on the status of the Covid-19 situation, Kejriwal said that Delhi is not among the six states which have recorded a major spike in cases.  “Although there is no reason to worry, the government has decided to be proactive regarding the issue. There have been three deaths so far and the patients had co-morbidities, which was the cause for their demise,” he added.

“All Covid-19 cases are being sent for genome sequencing so that the government can stay a step ahead in case there is a new variant of the virus. The most dominant variant at the moment is XBB.1.16. About 48 per cent of the cases in Delhi were found to be infected by this variant,” he added.

On the vaccination front, Kejriwal said all adults in Delhi had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while all eligible people below the age of 18 had been given the second dose. He added that all Delhi government hospitals had been directed to maintain isolation wards for Covid patients.

“We have enough beds, ambulances, sufficient oxygen and storage capacity as of now. We have 7,986 Covid beds. These include oxygen beds, ventilator beds and ICU beds. Only 66 are occupied as of now,” the chief minister added.

‘No need to worry’

7,896 Covid beds ready, only 66 occupied so far

Nearly everyone above 18 is vaccinated

100% first dose vaccination of those below 18 yrs, 85% vaccinated with a second dose

All positive samples being sent for genome sequencing

Random testing of 2% of passengers at the airport started

Hospitals told to keep isolated wards
On the vaccination front, Kejriwal said all adults in Delhi had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 while all eligible people below the age of 18 had been given the second dose. He added that all Delhi government hospitals had been directed to maintain isolation wards for Covid patients.

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Lt Governor VK Saxena for the suspension of free Yoga classes under the ‘Dilli ki Yogshala’ programme and asked who benefitted from the action. 

Kejriwal’s remarks come on the back of Punjab’s AAP-led government starting free Yoga classes in the state. Last year, the AAP dispensation in Delhi accused the BJP of “conspiring” to shut down the ‘Dilli ki Yogshala’ programme by pressuring officials. 

At the time, the Delhi government alleged that Saxena did not approve the programme’s extension beyond October 31. Tweeting in Hindi, Kejriwal said, “When the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) ordered the Lt Governor to stop free Yoga classes in Delhi, we started them in Punjab.” 

“In Delhi, 17,000 people used to do Yoga daily in the free classes of the Delhi government. Their Yoga was stopped. Who benefited from this? The one who works is bigger than the one who stops the work,” he said. Kejriwal launched the ‘Dilli Ki Yogshala’ programme in December 2021 to enable Delhi residents to get free Yoga training at their doorsteps six days a week. 

BJP conspired to shut Dilli ki Yogshala: AAP 
The AAP dispensation in the national capital accused the BJP of “conspiring” to shut down the ‘Dilli ki Yogshala’ programme by pressuring officials. The government alleged that the L-G did not okay the programme’s extension beyond October 31.

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women on Friday issued recommendations to the Centre and the Delhi government over the absence of a Transgender Welfare Board and implementation of the act to protect their rights in the national capital. 

The Government of India passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019 and the Central Rules in 2020. However, the state rules for Delhi are yet to be notified, the women’s panel said in a statement.

In response to a notice by the panel, the government said the approved draft rules for the city were pending notification from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. It also told the commission that the formation of the board has also been approved and now they are awaiting notification from the home ministry.

The commission’s recommendations were marked to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Delhi government’s social welfare department. In its recommendation to the ministry, the commission directed to expedite the notification of the rules and the welfare board so that steps could be taken to ensure the welfare and empowerment of trans persons in the city.

The commission pointed out that 12 states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, had already set up Transgender Welfare Boards and added that Delhi should not lag behind. The women’s panel also recommended to the city government immediately launch schemes for the welfare of trans persons and set up shelter homes for those in need of the state’s care and protection.

Rules for Delhi yet to be notified
The Government of India passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019 and the Central Rules in 2020. However, the state rules for Delhi are yet to be notified, the women’s panel said. The government said the approved draft rules for the city were pending notification from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs

NEW DELHI: Delhi- BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Friday wrote a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal demanding compensation of Rs 1 lakh per acre for the farmers of Delhi whose crops got damaged due to unseasonal rains. 

Sachdeva said in his letter that thousands of farmers in the national capital have suffered because the unseasonal rains damaged their crops. “In the last two years, the crops have been damaged and the farmers are in distress as the government has not yet paid for the loss which was announced two years back,” he said. 

He has requested the CM to conduct a survey of the loss caused to the farmers of Delhi and declare a compensation of Rs 1 lakh per acre. In his letter, he also attacked Power minister Atishi and said that she made a false announcement that the government gives free electricity to the farmers of Delhi, which is being stopped by the L-G. 

“Not a single unit of free electricity is given to the farmers in the national capital by the Delhi government,” he added.  Sachdeva questioned how can any government play with the sentiments of farmers like this.  “The farmers are bound to pay hefty bills of Rs 2,000 per month on average irrespective of whether they use electricity or not,” Sachdeva added. 

In regard to this matter, Sachdeva sought an apology from the government for the false announcement of 
free electricity and demanded action against the power minister. Meanwhile, the party announced that Delhi- BJP Kisan Morcha will stage a protest on Saturday outside the CM house to raise their demands. 

NEW DELHI: The Delhi police apprehended a young man for allegedly insulting a saffron flag placed near a mosque in northeast Delhi’s Jyoti Nagar and the religious sentiments, police said on Friday.  “On 29th March, one local Muslim boy named Falz insulted a saffron flag near a mosque. The incident become viral on social media,” said Joy Trikey, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East). 

The accused said that he along with two other minor boys prepared the video near the mosque after Fazil ki Namaaz, added the DCP. In this case, the police recovered the phone and have been ascertaining the role of both minors. 

An FIR under section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc), 295 A ( Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or reli¬gious beliefs.) and 120 B IPC was registered at Jyoti Nagar Police Station in North East district. 

As per the FIR, the complainant told the police that the accused tried to disturb the religious harmony of the area by insulting the saffron flag on social media. In a video, which was shared by the accused on his Instagram account, it has been seen that a boy trampling a saffron flag along with another boy. Further investigation, in this case, is under process, added DCP. 

NEW DELHI: Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said Friday the party will move the Delhi High Court after a city court denied bail to former minister Manish Sisodia in an excise policy scam case. Eight people involved in this matter were granted bail, two of whom even received anticipatory bail, but Sisodia’s bail application was wholly rejected, he said.

The MP called the decision “shocking” and said the party would appeal against it in the high court. “We respect the judiciary and the courts, but the Constitution gives us the right to agree and disagree with the judgments of the judiciary, as well as the right to appeal against them. Anyone who sees this order will see the truth,” he said.

He urged the judiciary to reconsider its decision and emphasised the importance of upholding the principles of justice and fairness. A Delhi court dismissed the bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia in the excise policy scam case of CBI, saying he was “prima facie the architect” and played the “most important and vital role” in the criminal conspiracy relating to alleged payment of advance kickbacks of around Rs 90-100 crore, meant for him and his colleagues in the Delhi government. Observing that the release of Sisodia, who is in custody since February 26 in the case, at the moment will “adversely affect the ongoing investigation”, special CBI judge M K Nagpal said.

The CBI arrested Sisodia in connection with alleged corruption in the formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 after several rounds of questioning. 

READ HERE: You can trouble me but can't break my spirit: Manish Sisodia's message from Tihar jail

NEW DELHI: The Municipal Corporation of Delhi plans to renovate a thousand big parks in the national capital in the next six months by installing green patching and refurbishing gym facilities wherever required, an official said on Friday. 

The civic body looks after 15,000 parks, including 1,000 big ones. A park is considered “big” if it is more than an acre in size. The renovation will include installing green patches and refurbishing the open gym 
and swings in the parks, the official said. The parks will be developed in a phased manner. 

“We are developing an action plan to refurbish the parks in the MCD area. We plan to develop the parks in phases,” the official said.  “We have 15,000 parks in total, of which around 1,000 are more than an acre in size. In the first phase, we will renovate such parks. Smaller parks will be renovated in the second phase,” the official added. 

“Renovation of the big parks is the priority as their demands are more. The renovation will also include the development of gyms where there is a need and sprucing up the existing outdoor gym facility,” he added. 
The civic authorities are also conducting surveys to identify service-level gaps across parks in colonies in the MCD area. 

“We have services such as swings in parks and open gyms. We believe there should be at least one park with an open gym in the colony. In every colony, there should be a park with facilities for children to play,” he said.  “(A survey to understand) colony-wise service gap is the best way to identify the requirement for facilities. We are preparing data in this regard and the repair work will start according to that,” he added. 

NEW DELHI: A city court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of Manish Sisodia in the Delhi excise policy case registered by the CBI. The court said prima facie, the AAP leader is the architect of the criminal conspiracy in the matter. The court also said that Sisodia’s release might adversely impact the ongoing investigation and “seriously hamper” its progress.

“It is clear from the discussion that the applicant had played the most important and vital role in the criminal conspiracy and he had been deeply involved in the formulation as well as the implementation of the policy. Therefore, as per allegations made by the prosecution and the evidence collected in support thereof, the applicant can prima facie be held to be the architect of the alleged criminal conspiracy,” special judge M K Nagpal.

“This court is not inclined to release the applicant on bail at this stage of investigation of the case as his release may adversely affect the ongoing investigation and will also seriously hamper the progress thereof. Therefore, the bail application filed on behalf of the applicant is being dismissed,” said the judge in his order.

READ MORE: 

Delhi liquor scam: Court adjourns hearing on Manish Sisodia's bail plea till April 5

You can trouble me but can't break my spirit: Manish Sisodia's message from Tihar jail

NEW DELHI: A 60-year-old rickshaw puller has died after some bricks fell on him following heavy rain and a storm in northeast Delhi's Dayalpur area, police said on Friday.

A PCR call was received at 8.20 pm on Thursday about the incident.

It was found that Kishan Lal, a resident of Nehru Vihar, had died after some bricks fell on him from a newly-constructed base for a water tank at B-block in the same locality, a senior police officer said.

He was sitting on his rickshaw when the bricks fell.

Heavy rain and storms are being blamed for the collapse.

The owner of house Ibrahim has been apprehended, police added.

NEW DELHI: Three men were arrested for allegedly opening fire inside a brothel earlier this month on central Delhi's GB Road and killing a sex worker, police said on Friday.

The accused -- Kaka, 19, Happy 20, and Anil, 22 -- were arrested in raids in western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, they said.

The shooting, in which a pimp too had been injured, had taken place March 7 around 2 pm at a brothel on GB Road.

The victims were a 30-year-old sex worker and a 28-year-old pimp, police said.

Both were rushed to LNJP hospital in injured state, where the sex worker succumbed.

She was shot in the back of her neck.

The three accused were captured on CCTV talking to someone on mobile and identified.

They were arrested in raids at different places in Western Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Sanjay Sain said.

During interrogation, police found that Kaka used to work at a sweets shop in Mayur Vihar and knew that the shop counter will be flush with money during the festival season.

He hatched a plan to rob the place with his friends Happy and Anil, Sain said.

Happy and Kaka arranged a pistol from Bihar and reached New Delhi Railway Station on March 7, and were joined by Anil, who came from Punjab.

Since they were a little early, they decided to visit a brothel on GB Road and met Imran, a pimp, who took them to a kotha.

"After reaching the kotha, they had some confrontation with Imran and others. During the confrontation, Imran and a sex worker noticed that they were carrying a pistol," Sain said.

Afraid they might be reported to police, the three tried to flee, but were stopped by Imran and the sex worker.

During their scuffle, Kaka took the pistol from Happy and fired indiscriminate shots at sex worker and Imran and fled, the DCP said.