Highlights of the day: Sanjay Singh released; supporters gather outside Tihar Jail in Delhi

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AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar jail after nearly 6 months.

The Delhi High Court today reserved verdict on the petition moved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam case. The Delhi CM is currently in judicial custody. He was arrested on the night of March 21. 

The BJP's Delhi unit has sent a defamation notice to senior AAP leader Atishi and demanded a public apology for her claim that the saffron party approached her through a "very close" person to join it. A day earlier, the Delhi minister claimed that four senior AAP leaders, including herself, would be arrested soon and claimed that she was advised to join the BJP or be ready to be arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a month.

Days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai will announce the second phase of the WhatsApp campaign titled 'Kejriwal ko Aashirwaad',  news agency ANI reported citing sources. Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15 and is lodged in Tihar Jail in connection to an alleged liquor policy scam.

Seven people were left dead after a blaze broke out in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar today. Officials said that three women, two men and two children were killed in the blaze. The blaze began in a tailoring shop around 4:00 am.  Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to quell the flames, but seven people had died in the fire by then. Officials are currently looking into the cause of the fire. Post-mortem examinations have been ordered for the victims.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday wrote to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, praising his contribution to the country, as he retires from Rajya Sabha. Kharge wrote on scoial media platform X that an era comes to an end with Singh's retirement. "Even as you retire from active politics, I hope that you will continue to be the voice of wisdom and moral compass to the nation by speaking to the citizens of our country as often as possible. I wish you peace, health and happiness," Kharge wrote on X, as he posted his letter to Singh.

A strong earthquake hit Taiwan  during the morning rush Wednesday, damaging buildings and creating a tsunami that washed ashore on southern Japanese islands. Train service was suspended across the island, as was subway service in Taipei, where a newly constructed above-ground line partially separated. The national legislature also had damage to walls and ceilings. There was still no word on the number of deaths in Hualien. Taiwan's worst quake in recent years struck on Sept 21, 1999 with a magnitude of 7.7, causing 2,400 deaths, injuring around 100,000 and destroying several buildings.

Days after Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was sent to judicial custody until April 15, Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi Minister Gopal Rai will announce on Wednesday the second phase of the WhatsApp campaign titled 'Kejriwal ko Aashirwaad', sources said.

10:35 PM

I want to tell the dictator of the nation that this is AAP, we were born from an agitation: Sanjay Singh

"From the party office, I want to tell the dictator of the nation that this is AAP, we were born from an agitation. You want to destroy our party? You have sent Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain to jail. What was their crime? Their crime was that they wanted to give better education to 2 crore people of Delhi," said Sanjay Singh.

8:22 PM

Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar jail after 6 months

AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh walks out of Tihar jail after nearly 6 months.

8:20 PM

NDMC's revenue collection for 2023-24 fiscal exceeds target

The New Delhi Municipal Council's revenues for the 2023-24 financial year exceeded its target, with property tax collection crossing the Rs 1,000-crore mark for the first time in its history, officials said on Wednesday. The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) collected a revenue of Rs 3,795.30 crore from receipt sources such as property tax, licence fees, commercial revenue (water and electricity) and parking fees, it said in a statement.

7:19 PM

Kejriwal lost 4.5 kg since arrest on March 21, alleges AAP; Tihar jail says vitals normal

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been rapidly losing weight since his arrest on March 21, senior AAP leader Atishi claimed on Wednesday and accused the BJP of putting his health at risk by keeping him in jail. She said the Aam Aadmi Party will seek legal help over the chief minister's health condition.

7:02 PM

Maldives President says Indian troops from second platform to leave within April

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has said that Indian military personnel manning the second aviation platform would be withdrawn within the current month and reiterated that the entire process would be completed by May 10, a media report said here on Wednesday. Muizzu's statement comes three weeks after the first batch of approximately 25 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives manning a helicopter gifted by India departed from the island nation after handing over the operations of the chopper to an Indian civilian crew as agreed ahead of the March 10 deadline.

6:47 PM

Atishi directs chief secy to urgently review Delhi's water supply issues

Delhi Water Minister and DJB chairperson Atishi has directed the chief secretary to reassess water supply in the city and submit a report detailing the plan of action to mitigate the water shortage in the identified areas, an official order said on Wednesday. The chief secretary has been directed to submit the report by 8 pm on Thursday. In an "urgent" order, the minister instructed the chief secretary to take a colony-wise update on water availability in comparison to the summer demand in the areas.

5:43 PM

Tesla to scout sites in India for $2 bn-$3 bn EV plant: Report

Tesla will send a team to India this month to scout locations for a proposed $2 billion to $3 billion electric car plant, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

5:42 PM

Bomb threats cause short lockdown at Norwegian parliament house

Two bomb threats led to a brief lockdown of the Norwegian parliament on Wednesday, while lawmakers continued debate inside. Heavily armed police were posted outside the assembly and the surrounding streets was cordoned off. Bomb sniffing dogs were seen in action outside the building.

5:27 PM

Combination of methods of water storage needed to address water crisis: World Bank

A combination of different methods of water resource management, including water storage is needed to address the problem of water shortage as currently being witnessed in Bengaluru, a senior World Bank official said on Wednesday. Water resource management is absolutely critical in times of global warming and climate change, World Bank Executive Director Paramewaran Iyer said. He cited the Centre's 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' as an example.

5:01 PM

At SCO meet, NSA Doval raises concerns over cross-border terrorism; mentions LeT, JeM

Terrorists should be effectively and expeditiously dealt with including those involved in cross-border terrorism, NSA Ajit Doval said on in an address at a security conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Kazakh capital. He called for shunning double standards in combating the menace. He also underlined the need for holding accountable the sponsors, financiers and facilitators of terrorism.

4:55 PM

Nuh Police arrest 2 people involved in cyber frauds

Cops have arrested two people for allegedly committing cyber frauds, an officer stated today. Five mobile phones and eight SIM cards were recovered from their possession, he added. The two have been identified as Hajma, a native of Ghasera village of Nuh district, and Sakir, a native of Utawar Ka Nagla village of Mathura in Uttar Pradesh.

4:49 PM

News update: Delhi HC reserves order on Kejriwal plea challenging arrest by ED

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on a petition by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam. "I am going to reserve judgement," said Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma after hearing the senior counsel appearing for the AAP leader as well as the agency.

4:23 PM

News update: Man linked to MP's NHM scam arrested for UP police recruitment paper leak, says STF

"The UP STF arrested Rajiv Nayan Mishra, the prime accused in the paper leak case, near Pari Chowk in Greater Noida on April 2. Further investigation is being conducted," says UP ADG Amitabh Yash.

3:30 PM

Indirect tax collection for FY24 exceeds RE by 'handsome margin': CBIC chief

The indirect tax collection for FY24 has exceeded the revised estimates (RE) of Rs 14.84 trillion by "a handsome margin", helped by a record GST mop-up, a top government official said. Lauding the efforts of tax officials, CBIC chairman Sanjay Kumar Agarwal, in a letter to field officials, said, "I am happy to inform that the indirect tax collections for the Financial Year 2023-24, including Customs and Union Excise Duty have exceeded the Revised Estimates by a handsome margin".

3:02 PM

ED is BJP, and BJP is ED: AAP leader Somnath Bharti