New Delhi, Oct 6: The Anti-Narcotics Squad of Delhi Police’s South District has seized 265 kg of illegal and banned firecrackers and arrested a 39-year-old man for storing and selling them during the festive season.

Acting on specific information regarding the illegal sale and storage of firecrackers, the police team conducted a raid in Madangir on October 5 and recovered a substantial quantity of firecrackers from the premises.

The accused was identified as Vipin Garg, a resident of Neb Sarai, Delhi. He was apprehended from the spot and arrested in connection with the case.

According to the police, the Anti-Narcotics Squad had been maintaining close surveillance over the illegal sale, storage and use of banned firecrackers in the national capital and had been taking strict action against violators.

Following the receipt of the information, the police team verified the input and conducted a raid at the identified premises. During the operation, Garg was found in possession of a large quantity of firecrackers intended for discreet sale during the festive season.

A total of 265 kg of illegal firecrackers was recovered and taken into police possession. A case under relevant sections was registered at Ambedkar Nagar Police Station, following which the accused was arrested.

The operation was conducted by a dedicated police team and was led by Inspector Anuj Chaudhary, under the close supervision of ACP/Operations Balram Beniwal.

The police said further investigation is underway.

The recovery of the banned firecrackers is expected to prevent their illegal sale and potential use during the festive season. Delhi Police said the action reaffirms its commitment to public safety and strict enforcement against the illegal storage and sale of banned firecrackers.

New Delhi, Oct 6: The Patiala House Court has granted regular bail to self-styled influencer Swatantra Bhardwaj, who was arrested in connection with the alleged assault of the father of a minor activist during a protest at Jantar Mantar.

The court had earlier, on September 15, granted Bhardwaj three weeks’ interim bail with conditions while considering his regular bail plea.

Bhardwaj is accused of assaulting Sanjay Kumar, father of a minor protester, during a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in July.

The Delhi Police had earlier said that the injuries sustained by the complainant were “simple” in nature and were allegedly caused by a steel bracelet.

The FIR invokes relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and provisions relating to criminal intimidation.

During the hearing of Bhardwaj’s bail plea in September, the Patiala House Court had questioned the Delhi Police on whether he had used caste-indicative words during the alleged incident. The prosecution had submitted that the initial complaint did not mention the use of any such language and that the allegation was made subsequently when the complainant’s statement was recorded again, following which provisions of the SC/ST Act were added to the FIR.

Bhardwaj was detained in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr district on September 4, hours after representatives of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) met senior Delhi Police officials and demanded his arrest.

The Delhi High Court had earlier dismissed a habeas corpus petition filed by Bhardwaj challenging his arrest in the alleged assault case.

A Bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja had rejected the plea after the Delhi Police submitted that it was not maintainable as Bhardwaj had already been sent to judicial custody.

The case had sparked controversy following a purported viral video in which Bhardwaj claimed that he had physically assaulted the father of the minor activist during the Jantar Mantar demonstration and allegedly said that he was let off because of his “political connections”.

Bhardwaj later told the media that he had allegedly acted in self-defence. A separate FIR was also registered against Bhardwaj under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act on the complaint of the minor activist, who alleged online rape threats and harassment.

New Delhi, Oct 6: The INDIA bloc MPs tried to push open the gates of the Akashvani Bhawan as they intensified their protest against the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar resignation.

Holding Tricolours and banners reading ‘Save democracy’, the INDIA bloc MPs on Tuesday commenced their protest march from Parliament to the ECI headquarters. The Opposition leaders raised slogans against the CEC, BJP and the RSS as they marched towards the ECI headquarters.

In view of the protest, Delhi Police and other security forces had been placed on alert. Barricades were also set up outside the ECI office.

Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, along with several other INDIA bloc leaders, were also briefly detained after they were stopped from heading towards the ECI’s office.

Gandhi was stopped by several layers of police barricades while attempting to proceed towards the ECI headquarters. He subsequently climbed onto one of the barricades and waved a large national flag, drawing loud slogans of support from the INDIA bloc leaders and workers gathered at the spot.

Police have instructed security forces to be fully prepared to deal with any situation. Necessary arrangements have been made to control the crowd and maintain law and order.

“The police’s objective is to maintain peace and order during the protest and prevent any untoward incidents,” officials said.

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been imposed in and around Jantar Mantar. Under this, restrictions may be imposed on certain activities and gatherings in the area.

The administration has appealed to the public to follow the prescribed rules and cooperate with security arrangements.

Earlier, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the Opposition would continue its fight to “save democracy” and asserted that the INDIA bloc was determined to continue its protest.

“This is a fight; we will keep fighting, and we will throw these thieves out. We are fully determined to save democracy, and we are fighting for democracy and nothing else,” Kharge said.