National News
SC fixes April 16 for hearing on pleas against law dropping CJI from EC appointment panel
New Delhi, Mar 19: The Supreme Court on Wednesday fixed April 16 for hearing on a clutch of petitions challenging the law passed by the Parliament, which excludes the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from the process of appointment of top officials of the Election Commission.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh decided to defer the hearing for four weeks after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing on behalf of the Association for Democratic Reforms, an NGO, mentioned that the matter is listed at serial number 38 and is not likely to reach for hearing during the course of the day.
The Justice Kant-led Bench added that it would ensure that not many urgent cases are listed on the fixed date and the pleas challenging the validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 are listed high on board on April 16.
In March 2023, a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had held that the appointment of top officials of the Election Commission shall be done by the President on the advice of a panel comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
“We declare that the appointment of the CEC and the other ECs shall be made on the recommendations made by a three-member Committee comprising the Prime Minister, LoP of the Lok Sabha and in case no LoP is available, the leader of the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha in terms of numerical strength and the Chief Justice of India,” said the apex court, clarifying that its guidelines shall be in effect until Parliament makes a law in consonance with Article 324(2) of the Constitution.
After the apex court verdict, the Parliament introduced legislation providing that the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and the other Election Commissioners (ECs) will be appointed by the President on the recommendation of a Selection Committee consisting of the PM, the Leader of the Opposition (or the largest opposition party) in the Lok Sabha, and a Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the PM.
Several PILs were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Chief Election Commissioner and the other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023.
One of the pleas filed by a Noida-based lawyer sought directions to set aside the gazette notification issued by the Union government on December 28, 2023, and to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection committee for the appointment of the CEC and ECs. Further, it sought direction to the Union of India for implementing an independent and transparent system of selection constituting a neutral and independent selection committee for appointment of the CEC and other ECs.
On February 19, the hearing was adjourned by the Justice Kant-led Bench after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested to defer the proceedings as he was on his legs before the Constitution Bench dealing with the question of whether courts can modify arbitral awards under the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996.
Crime
Two snatchers, auto-lifters arrested by Delhi Police; two stolen vehicles recovered

New Delhi, June 20: The Crack Team of Anand Vihar Police Station in Delhi’s Shahdara district has arrested two alleged snatchers and auto-lifters and recovered two stolen two-wheelers from their possession, police said on Saturday.
In view of the recent rise in incidents of snatching and motor vehicle theft in Shahdara district, the Crack Team of PS Anand Vihar was assigned the task of identifying and apprehending active offenders operating in the area.
A dedicated police team comprising Head Constables Lokesh, Sonu and Pradeep, along with Constable Gourav, was constituted under the close supervision of Inspector Manish Kumar, SHO of Anand Vihar Police Station, and ACP Vivek Vihar Mohinder Singh. The operation was carried out under the overall guidance of Shahdara District Police.
On June 18, while conducting routine patrol duty near Manglam Road in AGCR Enclave, the police team noticed two suspicious youths riding a CT-100 motorcycle without a registration number plate. The suspects were stopped and asked to produce ownership documents for the vehicle. However, they failed to provide any valid papers and appeared visibly nervous during questioning.
Upon verification, the motorcycle was found to be a stolen vehicle linked to E-FIR No. 013864/26, dated June 16, registered under Section 305(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Farsh Bazar Police Station. Both individuals were immediately taken into custody.
During sustained interrogation, the accused allegedly confessed to stealing the recovered CT-100 motorcycle from the Farsh Bazar area on June 16. They further disclosed that they had stolen a Honda Activa scooter from the same area on June 13. Acting on their disclosure, police recovered the scooter from near CBD Ground in Shahdara. The scooter was found to be linked to E-FIR No. 013519/26, dated June 13, 2026, registered under Section 305(b) BNS at Farsh Bazar Police Station.
Police said the accused admitted that the stolen two-wheelers were being used to commit snatching incidents across different parts of Shahdara district. They also confessed to their involvement in FIR No. 208/26, registered under Sections 304(2) and 3(5) of the BNS at Anand Vihar Police Station in connection with a snatching case.
The accused have been identified as Ritik, 21, and Atul, 18, both residents of Vishwas Nagar in Shahdara, Delhi. During questioning, they reportedly told investigators that they committed the offences for financial gain and to meet their personal needs.
The police recovered one stolen CT-100 motorcycle bearing registration number DL7SCD-99XX and one stolen Honda Activa scooter bearing registration number DL5SBA-6XX8.
According to police, the arrests have helped solve multiple motor vehicle theft cases registered at Anand Vihar and Farsh Bazar police stations, in addition to a snatching case registered at Anand Vihar Police Station.
Crime
Delhi Police arrests imposter for posing as ADM, duping people of lakhs in govt job and land scam

New Delhi, June 20: In a major breakthrough, Delhi Police has arrested a habitual impersonator who allegedly posed as an Additional District Magistrate (ADM) and cheated multiple individuals to the tune of Rs 60 lakh on the pretext of securing government jobs and arranging land allotments.
According to an official press release issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central District), the accused identified as Pawan Kumar Pandey @ Varun Kumar Pandey, a resident of Gandhi Vihar, Delhi, aged 43 years, was apprehended by a dedicated team from PP Sidhipura, PS DBG Road.
The police stated that the accused “posed as an Additional District Magistrate and preyed on trust,” deceiving victims by projecting himself as a senior government officer with close links to top officials.
The case originated from a complaint received on 23.03.2026 at PP Sidhipura, wherein the accused allegedly introduced himself as “Varun Kumar Pandey, ADM, Uttar Pradesh.” He is accused of falsely assuring victims of government jobs and allotment of plots in Noida under official schemes.
The press note stated that “cheating of approximately ₹60 lakh on the pretext of government jobs and land allotment was exposed.” Based on the complaint, FIR No. 206/2026 was registered under relevant Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 318(4), 316(2), 319(2), 204 and 61(2).
Police said multiple forged identity cards, visiting cards and documents were recovered during the investigation. The accused had also created a strong digital footprint using WhatsApp chats, audio recordings, screenshots and e-Sakshya video evidence.
Officials added that a “financial trail was established through bank accounts and UPI transactions,” confirming receipt of large sums of money from victims through intermediaries. Investigators also identified assets purchased from proceeds of crime, including a Swift car and a scooty.
During verification, police found that the accused had been using the identity of a real PCS officer. A senior officer noted that verification with Varun Kumar Pandey, PCS (2015 batch), former ADM Jhansi, confirmed misuse of his identity and designation.
The accused allegedly used publicly available information and photographs to convincingly project himself as an ADM posted at different locations, including Lodhi Road, and to support earlier claims of having served in Uttar Pradesh.
During interrogation, the accused admitted to impersonating an ADM for several years and using forged documents to gain trust and cheat victims. He allegedly projected “close links with senior government officers” and used intermediaries to collect money.
The accused is also linked to a previous FIR registered in 2019 at PS Sahibabad under multiple IPC Sections.
The press release stated that “role of other associates and additional victims is under investigation.” Authorities are also examining additional financial transactions and possible wider networks involved in the fraud.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior police officials of Central District, with sustained technical surveillance and coordinated digital analysis leading to the arrest.
Further investigation is underway to trace more victims and uncover the full extent of the fraud.
National News
Rahul Gandhi slams NTA over NEET goof-up, as Nagpur student’s exam centre allotted in Abu Dhabi

New Delhi, June 20: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi tore into the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Saturday, over a shocking anomaly in the admit card of a NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) aspirant, just a day ahead of the re-examinations.
Coming down hard on the examination body, Rahul accused it of “gambling” with the children’s future and said that despite bungling up on the previous occasion, it didn’t get its act together, thereby burdening the already stressed children and their parents.
The controversy erupted after a NEET aspirant in Nagpur was reportedly found to have been allotted an examination centre in Abu Dhabi for the re-test scheduled on June 21, 2026. The mega blunder by NTA has hogged national attention and is drawing backlash and criticism from the student community.
Nagpur-based candidate named Abdullah Mohammad Talib discovered the discrepancy while downloading his Re-NEET 2026 admit card from the official website. Instead of being assigned a centre in his city, his admit card mentioned an examination centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
As the matter kicked up a row, the NTA sought to downplay the issue and assured that “the grievance is being addressed and the candidate will be allocated a centre in Nagpur, after due verification, in the next few hours.”
Rahul Gandhi expressed dismay over the embarrassing incident, happening just a day before exams, and over student’s emotional turmoil.
He said that the student, being at the receiving end of NTA’s mismanagement, cried all night and is reluctant to take the exams.
“What kind of stress is this? Can you even imagine? The NTA is actually just testing the patience of the country’s children and their parents,” Rahul said in a post on X.
Hitting out at the ‘broken’ education system, the Congress leader said that he raised the matter earlier also, during his interaction with students in Kota and said, “This is nothing but extortion of an entire generation’s money, time, and mental peace.”
Further stepping up the heat on the NTA, he said, “Stop gambling with our children’s future. They deserve a sensitive, responsible, and accountable education system and exam authority.”
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