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Police stop Kejriwal from marching towards PM house to submit 2.3 lakh petitions against E20 policy
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New DelhiAug 5, 2026 01:19 AM IST Addressing mediapersons later in the day, Kejriwal said AAP had sought an appointment with the PM a month ago but received no response. He called the refusal to meet the delegation a reflection of a "dictatorial attitude". Delhi Police on Tuesday stopped AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders from marching towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence with around 100 people to submit over 2.3 lakh petitions against E20-blended petrol, prompting them to stage a protest on Firoz Shah Road. Kejriwal was accompanied by former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh and AAP leader Jasmine Shah, among others.The march was stopped near 5, Firoz Shah Road. Protesters carried bundles of petitions – collected from across the country – and raised slogans against the Centre’s ethanol-blended fuel policy. Police later took custody of the petitions after informing the delegation that the PM would not meet them. The petition, addressed to the PM, said there was “neither logic, nor science, nor engineering, nor economics” justifying the government’s E20 policy, and urged authorities to give consumers the choice between pure petrol and E20 at fuel stations, and to lower E20’s price to reflect its reduced calorific value and mileage. Addressing mediapersons later in the day, Kejriwal said AAP had sought an appointment with the PM a month ago but received no response. He called the refusal to meet the delegation a reflection of a “dictatorial attitude”. “The BJP-led Central Government itself admitted in Parliament that fuel efficiency does decrease (in case of E20 petrol). It also admitted that engine components are affected, specifically the rubber components. So, if engine parts are getting damaged and mileage is reducing, why is this being imposed forcibly,” Kejriwal asked. He reiterated that the Centre was pushing E20 due to pressure from US President Donald Trump. “Trump is putting so much pressure on him that PM Modi does not have the courage to say no. He is forcing India to buy ethanol from the US and sell it here.”Story continues below this ad He warned that if the policy is not withdrawn, “the country will once again be compelled to launch a major movement”. The BJP, meanwhile, alleged that Kejriwal is trying to revive his “failed politics” through his protest. “…E20 has not even been implemented for four months, yet he claims vehicles have been getting damaged for the last four years. That itself shows how unbalanced and prejudiced his allegations are,” BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told mediapersons in the Parliament House complex. He alleged that the AAP leader has failed to produce any technical or scientific evidence to support his claims. “If he is indeed a mechanical engineer, he should explain the impact of E20 fuel on an engine’s suction, compression, power and exhaust cycles. He should explain its impact on the piston and cylinder. Instead, there is no research, no evidence and no data from any company. He is only trying to create confusion,” Trivedi claimed. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Devansh Mittal is a Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in the New Delhi City bureau. He reports on urban policy, civic governance, and infrastructure in the National Capital Region, with a growing focus on housing, land policy, transport, and the disruption economy and its social implications. Professional Background Education: He studied Political Science at Ashoka University. Core Beats: His reporting focuses on policy and governance in the National Capital Region, one of the largest urban agglomerations in the world. He covers housing and land policy, municipal governance, urban transport, and the interface between infrastructure, regulation, and everyday life in the city. Recent Notable Work His recent reporting includes in-depth examinations of urban policy and its on-ground consequences: An investigation
New DelhiAug 2, 2026 03:54 PM IST At least 12 people were killed in the blast near Red Fort last year. (File Photo)With just a couple of weeks left before this year’s Independence Day, the Delhi Police have directed their officers to keep a close watch on the second-hand car trade. The directive came during a meeting chaired by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on Saturday, wherein Special Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Anil Shukla briefed officers on the security arrangements.During the briefing, station house officers were instructed to conduct special drives to verify the documentation of second-hand vehicles being sold by used-car dealers, sources said. An official source said that verification of the second-hand car business is not a new exercise, but special emphasis has been placed on it following the Red Fort blast last year. The alleged use of a second-hand car in the incident was specifically mentioned during the briefing, and officers were instructed to ensure that all vehicle documentation is in order. A second-hand Hyundai i20 allegedly used in the attack had changed hands multiple times without the ownership being officially transferred. Officers were also directed to ensure that stolen vehicles are not being sold through second-hand dealers. Delhi has hundreds of second-hand car dealers, many of whom are yet to be regularised by the government, the sources added. As part of the anti-terror preparedness, police officers were also instructed to keep a close watch on individuals facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and other criminals who are currently out on bail.Story continues below this ad Sources said this was the first formal interaction between Kumar and SHOs since he assumed charge last month. During the meeting, Kumar advised officers to strengthen public-centric and community policing in their respective jurisdictions. He asked officers to regularly engage with residents, including senior citizens and members of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), to improve public outreach and confidence. On Friday, Kumar had appreciated the force for the handling of the recent Cockroach Janta Party protest that left over 100 police personnel injured.
Dedicated personnel are also being deployed to strengthen action against narcotics offences, curb illegal trafficking and enhance coastal security, Virk informed the court. (File Photo)The state government on Friday informed the Gujarat High Court that it has undertaken a wide-ranging restructuring and expansion of the police force, combining large-scale recruitment, specialised units and technology-driven policing measures aimed at strengthening law enforcement and emergency response systems. The submissions were made before a Division Bench of Chief Justice Sunita Agarwal and Justice D N Ray during the hearing of two suo motu public interest litigations — one initiated in 2024 concerning traffic management and inadequate road infrastructure in Ahmedabad, and another pending since 2019 related to the pending vacancies of constables, sub-inspectors and other ranks in the Gujarat Police. Government Pleader G H Virk told the court that the Home Department had undertaken a series of time-bound initiatives to enhance the operational capacity and efficiency of the police force. A key component of the plan is the expansion of manpower. The first phase of recruitment has been completed with the selection of 10,861 constables and 472 Police Sub-Inspectors (PSIs). A second phase is currently underway to fill 13,591 vacancies, including 12,733 constabulary posts and 858 PSI cadre posts, Virk told the court. In addition, the government has sanctioned 2,109 new constable posts, comprising 2,082 unarmed and 27 armed constables, to support emerging policing requirements and public safety initiatives. Of these, 2,000 personnel will be deployed under the Dial 112 Janrakshak initiative, an integrated emergency response system designed to unify police, fire, ambulance, women’s assistance and child helpline services under a single platform, he said. Traffic regulation has also been significantly strengthened, with the state deploying 3,261 traffic brigade personnel across 38 districts and cities, including 650 additional personnel in Ahmedabad, to improve congestion management and enforcement. Alongside the increase in manpower, the Gujarat Police has partnered with the Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT), Surat, to conduct a scientific study of traffic deployment in Ahmedabad under the Gujarat Traffic Intelligence and Road Safety Platform, aimed at optimising resource allocation through data-driven planning, Virk said. The State has also reinforced the Prosecution and Crime Cell under the Director General of Police by sanctioning 32 dedicated constable posts. The specialised unit will oversee investigations and prosecutions in serious offences, including terrorism, organised crime, human trafficking and cybercrime, while coordinating with investigating agencies to ensure effective court proceedings, the court was informed. Story continues below this ad The initiative is intended to improve coordination between investigators and prosecutors, reduce procedural delays and strengthen conviction outcomes in complex criminal cases. An additional 27 armed constables have also been sanctioned for deployment at police range offices, the state said in its submissions. In response to rising digital threats, the government has created specialised roles in cybercrime investigation, digital forensics, data analytics and Artificial Intelligence-assisted policing. Dedicated personnel are also being deployed to strengthen action against narcotics offences, curb illegal trafficking and enhance coastal security, Virk informed the court. The VISHWAS public safety project has received an additional 50 constabulary posts for its second phase. The initiative integrates AI-based surveillance with advanced CCTV systems through the NETRAM and TRINETRA command centres, supporting crime prevention, urban policing and border monitoring, the State said in its submissions. The State told the High Court
New DelhiJul 30, 2026 10:59 PM IST Khalid, a former JNU student leader, has been booked for offences under the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Arms Act and UAPA. For the third time, student activist Umar Khalid has moved the Delhi High Court, seeking bail in the larger conspiracy case of Northeast Delhi riots in 2020. He has been booked under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Khalid’s appeal challenging the trial court’s July 4 decision to dismiss his bail application is listed for hearing before a bench of Justices Prathiba Singh and Vikas Mahajan on Friday.The HC had earlier rejected his bail plea twice – in October 2022 and September 2025. Both times, the Supreme Court had upheld the HC order. Khalid, arrested in September 2020, was booked under UAPA for being one of the “masterminds” of the riots that had left 53 people dead and more than 700 injured. Besides him, activist Sharjeel Imam, among others, was also booked in the case. The SC, in its order on January 5, had refused bail to Khalid and Imam, but granted bail to five other co-accused while establishing the “hierarchy of participation”. In this hierarchy, Khalid and Imam were classified to be on a “higher footing” compared to the five others who were granted bail by the SC. The trial court, while rejecting Khalid’s and Imam’s bail pleas on July 4 had observed that it “has no option but to follow” the January 5 judgment of the Supreme Court, whereby the petitions of both the applicants were dismissed. The SC had also observed no change in their circumstances to allow a fresh plea for bail, the trial court had added. Khalid, a former JNU student leader, has been booked for offences under the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, Arms Act and UAPA. © The Indian Express Pvt Ltd Sohini Ghosh is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express. Previously based in Ahmedabad covering Gujarat, she recently moved to the New Delhi bureau, where she primarily covers legal developments at the Delhi High Court Professional Profile Background: An alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), she previously worked with ET NOW before joining The Indian Express. Core Beats: Her reporting is currently centered on the Delhi High Court, with a focus on high-profile constitutional disputes, disputes over intellectual property, criminal and civil cases, issues of human rights and regulatory law (especially in the areas of technology and healthcare). Earlier Specialty: In Gujarat, she was known for her rigorous coverage in the beats of crime, law and policy, and social justice issues, including the 2002 riot cases, 2008 serial bomb blast case, 2016 flogging of Dalits in Una, among others. She has extensively covered health in the state, including being part of the team that revealed the segregation of wards at the state’s largest government hospital on lines of faith in April 2020. With Ahmedabad being a UNESCO heritage city, she has widely covered urban development and heritage issues, including the redevelopment of the Sabarmati Ashram Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting from the Delhi High Court covers major political, constitutional, corporate, and public-interest legal battles: High-Profile Case Coverage She has extensively covered the various legal battles - including for compensation under the aegis of North East Delhi Riots Claims Commission - pertaining to the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, as well as 1984 anti-Sikh riots. She has also led coverage at the intersection of technology and governance, and its impact on the citizenry, from, and beyond courtrooms — such as the government’s stakeholder consultations for framing AI-Deepfake policy. Signature Style Sohini is recognized for her sustained reporting from courtrooms and beyond. She specialises in breaking down dense legal arguments to make legalese accessible for readers. Her transition from Gujarat t
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