National News
Mumbai Weather Update For Dec 27, 2025: City Wakes Up To Haze-Filled Morning Skies; Overall Air Quality Remains Unhealthy At 246
Mumbai: witnessed a crisp and relatively cool start to Saturday, offering residents a brief break from the city’s usual humidity. Clear skies, mild winds and lower temperatures made the morning pleasant, encouraging many to step outdoors during the early hours. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was expected to hover around 18°C, while the maximum could touch 33°C, making it one of the more comfortable winter days this season.
However, the seemingly ideal weather masked a persistent environmental concern. A thin haze hung over several parts of the city, signalling continued deterioration in air quality. Data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in showed Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 246 on Saturday morning, placing it firmly in the ‘unhealthy’ category. Such levels pose health risks, particularly for children, senior citizens and people suffering from respiratory ailments.
The sustained pollution, largely due to Mumbai’s ongoing infrastructure boom. Dust and fine particulate matter released from multiple large-scale government projects, including metro corridors, coastal road construction, bridge works and extensive road widening, continue to significantly impact air quality. In addition, numerous private real estate developments across the city add to the pollution burden, especially during winter months when dry conditions allow dust to remain suspended in the air for longer periods.
AQI readings across Mumbai revealed stark contrasts between different areas. Chembur emerged as the most polluted location, recording an alarming AQI of 326, categorised as ‘severe’. At such levels, even healthy individuals may experience breathing discomfort and other health effects. Sion followed closely with an AQI of 308, while Santacruz East recorded 303, both also falling in the ‘severe’ category. Charkop and Colaba reported AQI levels of 293 and 287, respectively, remaining dangerously close to the severe threshold.
Suburban areas fared slightly better, though air quality remained far from satisfactory. Jogeshwari East recorded an AQI of 130, while Govandi and Kandivali East stood at 160 each, all classified under the ‘poor’ category. Pollution levels worsened in other suburbs, with Borivali East registering an AQI of 200 and Malad West 217, both categorised as ‘unhealthy’.
For perspective, AQI values between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51–100 ‘moderate’, 101–150 ‘poor’, 151–200 ‘unhealthy’, and readings above 200 fall into the ‘hazardous’ range. Despite the pleasant winter weather, Mumbai’s air quality continues to be a pressing concern, underscoring the need for stricter dust-control measures and sustained environmental interventions.
Crime
Police official suspended over case involving Telangana minister’s former OSD

Hyderabad, Aug 25: Inspector of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended over Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s former OSD, N. Sumanth’s case.
Muttu Yadav, the Inspector (Station House Officer) of Jubilee Hills Police Station, faced the action over the alleged delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and failure to trace Sumanth.
Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued orders, suspending the SHO. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered into the handling of the case by the police.
Sumanth remained at large in a case of alleged assault on a real estate businessman. His driver was picked up by police on Sunday.
Sumanth and five others were booked following a complaint filed by the realtor, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.
An attempt to murder case was registered against the former OSD and five others.
A zero FIR was registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week.
Later, the case was transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station of Hyderabad Commissionerate.
Gongidi Harikrishna, a resident of Boduppal, lodged a complaint. Harikrishna alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and threatened with dire consequences.
The case was registered against former OSD Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complainant said Sumanth and others assaulted him on July 30.
Harikrishna stated that Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramu’s office. Sumanth allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. On Sumanth’s direction, others also joined the assault.
The complainant claimed that he sustained a fracture to his left hand, bleeding injuries and other injuries and that he underwent surgery on August 10.
The case was registered amid a controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha’s family.
Her daughter Konda Sushmitha’s recent remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy triggered a storm in the ruling Congress party.
At her mother’s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmita declared that she would contest from Parkala Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also made allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister’s family.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the disciplinary committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) issued a show-cause notice to the minister.
Surekha distanced herself from her daughter’s remarks, saying the latter expressed her personal views.
National News
KMVSTDCL funds routed to Rahul Gandhi’s house, alleges Karnataka BJP leader

Bengaluru, Aug 25: Former Karnataka Minister and BJP leader, B. Sriramulu, on Tuesday alleged that the funds allegedly misappropriated from the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation Limited (KMVSTDCL) were routed to the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Addressing the media at the BJP state headquarters Jagannatha Bhavan in Bengaluru, Sriramulu alleged that BJP leaders had raised slogans in the Assembly claiming that the misappropriated Valmiki Corporation funds had reached Rahul Gandhi’s residence and the government curtailed the Assembly session.
Sriramulu said the BJP has decided to undertake a padayatra from September 1, led by state BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra, BJP leaders Gali Janardhana Reddy, R. Ashoka, Bangaru Hanumantu and other party leaders.
The 10-day padayatra will begin in Raichur on September 1 and conclude in Ballari on September 10, he said.
“The padayatra will highlight issues including the government’s alleged negligence towards irrigation, corruption in the ST Corporation and the Valmiki Corporation issue. The Congress has been neglecting Dalits. The BJP is undertaking this major padayatra because we will not allow injustice to be done to Dalits,” Sriramulu said.
Sriramulu accused Congress leaders of shedding “crocodile tears” over issues concerning Dalits.
He alleged that the government had curtailed the Assembly session after taking note of the BJP’s protests over the issue.
“Protests were held in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council. Congress leaders have betrayed Babasaheb Ambedkar, Babu Jagjivan Ram and the Dalit community,” he alleged.
It can be noted that the Valmiki Corporation scam involves the alleged illegal diversion of funds from the KMVSTDCL.
The alleged scam came to light in May 2024 following the suicide of 52-year-old corporation superintendent Chandrasekar. P., who left a suicide note detailing unauthorised fund transfers and corruption.
While initial irregularities centered around smaller figures, investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pegged the total misappropriation and diverted funds at around Rs 89 crore.
Funds earmarked for tribal welfare projects were illegally moved to unauthorised bank accounts—including bogus accounts opened using forged KYC documents at the Union Bank of India’s MG Road branch in Bengaluru—and later layered through shell cooperatives like Hyderabad’s First Finance Credit Cooperative Society.
The then-Karnataka Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare was identified by probe agencies as a primary mastermind behind the layering and siphoning of the funds. Nagendra previously resigned from the Cabinet, faced arrest, and later secured bail.
Currently, Nagendra has recently taken charge of Minister for Planning and Statistics in the Cabinet led by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. BJP and JD (S) have announced that they will agitate until Nagendra is sacked from the Cabinet.
Crime
Delhi Police arrest 20-year-old, recover 200 quarters of illicit Haryana liquor

New Delhi, Aug 25: Prompt action by the staff of Delhi’s Hauz Qazi police station led to the arrest of a 20-year-old man on Tuesday and the recovery of 200 quarters of illicit country-made liquor being transported for illegal sale in the national capital.
The police also seized a grey-coloured scooty used for transporting the liquor. A case under the relevant provisions of the Delhi Excise Act has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
According to police, the incident took place on August 24 at around 10.30 p.m., when staff of PS Hauz Qazi were conducting routine patrolling in the area of Lal Kuan Road near Farashkhana Road.
During the patrolling, the police team noticed a person on a scooty coming from the Lal Kuan side. On spotting the police personnel, the rider suddenly turned the vehicle around and started moving in the opposite direction, raising suspicion.
The police team immediately followed and intercepted the scooty. During the subsequent checking, a heavy white plastic bag was found placed on the vehicle. The rider allegedly failed to provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the contents of the bag.
Upon checking the bag, the police recovered 200 quarters of country-made liquor, each containing 180 ml. The bottles were bearing the label, “For Sale in Haryana Only”.
The rider was identified as Akash, a resident of Burari in Delhi, aged about 20 years. The recovered liquor was taken into possession in accordance with the law, while the scooty used for its transportation was also seized.
Accordingly, FIR No. 389/26 under Sections 33 and 38 of the Delhi Excise Act was registered at PS Hauz Qazi, and further investigation was initiated.
The recovery was made by a police team comprising SI Ranvijay Singh, In-charge of Police Post Rodgran, Head Constable Paramveer, and Constable Daya Chand. The operation was carried out under the leadership of Inspector Amrender Kumar Suman, SHO of PS Hauz Qazi, and under the overall supervision of Rajiv Bhardwaj, ACP, Kamla Market.
Police said the alertness and prompt response of the patrolling team led to the interception of the accused and the recovery of a substantial quantity of illicit liquor. The seizure of the scooty allegedly used for transportation has further strengthened the investigation into the illegal transportation and supply of liquor.
During interrogation, Akash disclosed that he used to procure illicit liquor from areas near the Haryana border and subsequently supply it in and around the Sadar area of Delhi to earn money and meet his personal expenses.
The accused was further questioned about the source of the recovered liquor and the persons allegedly involved in its procurement and supply. Police said efforts are underway to identify the source and ascertain whether other persons are involved in the illegal liquor supply network.
Police records revealed that Akash, son of Pappu, was previously involved in an Excise Act case registered at PS Burari. He was named in FIR No. 254/25 under Sections 33 and 38 of the Delhi Excise Act.
Further investigation is in progress.
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