Kolkata, Sep 17: The Kolkata Police arrested four persons and seized a large quantity of illegally stored e-cigarettes during a raid on a shop in the city, the police said on Thursday.

A joint team of the Anti-Rowdy Section (ARS) and Detective Department raided ‘The Smokers Den’ at 191 Park Street, under Beniapukur police station, on Wednesday night. The raid followed a tip-off that e-cigarettes were being illegally stored and sold at the shop.

A senior Kolkata Police officer said, “The questioning of the arrested persons is going on in this matter. The four arrested persons will be produced before the ACJM court in Sealdah today (Thursday). The investigators may apply for their custody in the court for questioning. The matter is being investigated from all angles.”

According to the police, the shop was being used to illegally store and sell e-cigarettes. During the search, investigators recovered a large quantity of e-cigarettes and arrested four persons associated with the establishment.

The accused have been identified as 22-year-old Mohammed Rifaiz, 28-year-old Abdul Hakim K, 21-year-old Ahmed Masud and 40-year-old Mohammed Ejaz. All four are residents of Kolkata.

The police said the first three accused were found to be living at an address on Linton Street in the Beniapukur police station area. The fourth accused is a resident of Ripon Street in the city.

Investigators are examining whether the shop had been stocking and selling e-cigarettes for a prolonged period. The arrested persons are being questioned to determine the source of the seized e-cigarettes, identify their suppliers, and ascertain whether other people are involved in the alleged illegal trade.

A case has been registered by the Detective Department at Beniapukur police station in connection with the incident. Police have invoked multiple sections of law in the case.

Sources said further raids could be conducted at other shops in the city as part of the investigation. The move is aimed at determining whether other shops are also illegally storing or selling e-cigarettes in the city.

Further investigation into the case is underway, said the police.

New Delhi, Sep 17: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin on Thursday donated blood at a programme organised at the party’s central office in the capital, under the party’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ and extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The month-long ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’, which began on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, will continue until October 7 and is being organised to mark PM Modi’s 25 years of public service.

Nitin Nabin said that PM Modi’s tenure as the head of the state has brought about a significant “transformation in people’s lives and thinking” and also highlighted the changes witnessed across the country during his years in public life.

“Today, people across the country will light ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ and pray for the long and successful life of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Nabin said.

“Today is the day to offer prayers and pay obeisance to Lord Vishwakarma. Along with the divine architect, today also marks the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the architect of modern India,” the BJP chief said.

“I first extended greetings to the Pradhan Sevak of the country on his birthday and wish him a long and successful life,” Nabin said.

Speaking about the blood donation initiative being undertaken as part of the month-long campaign, Nabin said BJP workers across the country were participating in the programme with the message of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’.

The BJP National President said, “Today, thousands of BJP karyakartas across the country are initiating this entire campaign through blood donation in the spirit of ‘Raktadaan Mahadaan’ (Blood Donation, Great Donation). It is a matter of great privilege for everyone to be participating in this blood donation programme today.”

Nabin said that the campaign would seek to highlight the changes that people across the country have experienced during Prime Minister Modi’s years in public life.

Across the country, he said, there are “thousands and lakhs of people whose lives have witnessed a transformation through the dedication and perseverance” of Prime Minister Modi during his 12 years as Prime Minister and 25 years as Head of State.

“Not only have their lives changed, but the thinking of millions and crores of Indians has also undergone a transformation. Today, every Indian is coming forward and working with the spirit of ‘Nation First’,” Nabin said.

He said that the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’ initiative would also be observed across the country on the Prime Minister’s birthday, with people reflecting on the changes they have witnessed in society and in their own lives.

“Today, on the birth anniversary of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all Indians will come together to light the ‘Aashirwad Ka Diya’, reflecting the changes that have taken place in society, the transformation visible in people’s minds, and the changes witnessed in their lives, and will pray for the success and long life of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Nabin also spoke about India’s development trajectory and its growing position on the global stage, attributing the progress to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

“Today, India is moving ahead prominently on the path of development and, advancing towards becoming a Viksit Bharat, is establishing a distinct position on the global stage. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is taking the country towards the dream of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, we are all associated with this campaign and pray for his long and successful life,” Nabin added.

New Delhi, Sep 17: Representatives of the All India Petroleum Dealers Association (AIPDA) met senior officials of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas on Thursday to discuss their demand for exemption from the merchant discount rate (MDR) on UPI transactions on fuel sales at petrol pumps.

The dealers’ body said in a statement that the issue was discussed with senior officials of the Petroleum Ministry as the additional MDR cost could put pressure on dealer margins, as retail fuel sales are made on prescribed commissions.

The new UPI framework levies an MDR of Rs 5 per transaction on petrol and diesel purchases above Rs 2,000. Such transactions account for around 30-40 per cent of total purchases across retail outlets in the country, according to dealers.

Petroleum Ministry officials sought to explain the rationale behind introducing MDR, which was required to support the development of the next layer of India’s UPI digital infrastructure.

“Petroleum dealers have been at the forefront of adopting digital payments and have worked closely with the government to promote their use across the country,” the AIPDA said.

The association said it expects to continue the dialogue with the government.

“We look forward to continuing the dialogue towards a mutually beneficial solution for consumers, petroleum dealers, and all stakeholders in India’s UPI ecosystem,” the statement said.

Dealers have raised concerns as digital payments have become an important mode of payment at petrol pumps, particularly for higher-value purchases.

Petroleum dealers have sought a complete exemption for fuel retail transactions, citing the nature of their business and the impact of MDR-related costs on their margins.

The Finance Ministry clarified that MDR is neither a tax nor a charge collected by the government or NPCI. It is distributed among payment ecosystem participants, including banks and payment application providers, to support the operation and continued expansion of the UPI ecosystem.

Transactions above Rs 2,000 in essential and thin-margin sectors, including railways, telecommunications, insurance, fuel and agricultural inputs, will attract a flat MDR of Rs 5 per transaction. The flat charge will provide cost certainty for critical public services and businesses operating on narrow margins.