New Delhi, July 26: The Anti Auto Theft Squad (AATS) of Delhi Police’s East District on Sunday arrested an interstate bootlegger and seized 1,600 quarter bottles of illicit liquor being smuggled from Haryana to Delhi. The Police also impounded a car used to transport the contraband.

According to Delhi Police, the accused has been identified as Anand alias Kallu, 31, a resident of Karkardooma Village. The operation led to the recovery of 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor, all bearing the label “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

Police said the seizure is part of its ongoing drive to curb the illegal transportation and sale of liquor in the national capital and dismantle interstate smuggling networks. A case has been registered under Sections 33 and 58 of the Delhi Excise Act at Laxmi Nagar Police Station.

The team, on July 23, received specific intelligence that a large consignment of illicit liquor was being transported from Sonipat, Haryana, to Delhi in a car. Acting swiftly on the input, the police laid a trap near Noida Link Road, Shakarpur Bus Stand.

At around 10.30 p.m., the suspected vehicle was spotted approaching the location. When police signalled the driver to stop, he allegedly attempted to flee by speeding away. However, the team intercepted the vehicle after a brief chase and apprehended the driver.

During the search, officers recovered 32 cartons containing 1,600 quarter bottles of liquor from the rear seat and boot of the car. The seized consignment included 23 cartons of Race 7 Metro Liquor (180 ml) and nine cartons of Falcon’s Santra Desi Sharab (180 ml), all marked “For Sale in Haryana Only.”

The car used for transporting the liquor was also seized.

During interrogation, the accused allegedly admitted that he had been transporting illicit liquor from Haryana for illegal distribution in Delhi to earn quick money.

Police said Anand has a previous criminal record and was earlier booked in FIR No. 332/2013 under Sections 379, 411 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code at Anand Vihar Police Station.

Investigators are now working to identify the source of the liquor, its intended recipients and other members of the interstate smuggling network. Further investigation into the case is underway.

Tehran, July 26: Iran and Oman held several rounds of technical talks in Tehran to discuss arrangements for safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said on Sunday that the talks were “useful and forward-looking” and progress had been made.

Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Baqaei said the talks were held on Friday and Saturday at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers, during which, they discussed common principles and practical mechanisms for ensuring safe maritime traffic through the strategic waterway while respecting the sovereign rights of the two littoral states, Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Baqaei added that Oman delegation left Iran on Saturday. However, the two nations would continue the technical and political consultations.

When asked regarding the current situation about navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that there had been no change in the status of maritime traffic in the waterway, IRNA reported.

The Strait of Hormuz links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying oil and liquefied natural gas exports from major Gulf producers to international markets.

The talks between the two nations come amid renewed tensions in West Asia following military exchanges between the US and Iran.

Meanwhile, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the United States’ naval blockade against Iran remains fully in effect, announcing that American forces have redirected multiple commercial vessels, boarded ships for verification, and disabled one tanker that allegedly attempted to violate the blockade.

In a post on social media platform X, CENTCOM added: “The US naval blockade against Iran remains in full effect. As of July 25, CENTCOM has redirected 12 commercial vessels trying to run the blockade, disabled 2 that didn’t comply, and boarded 2 to ensure total compliance.”

The US Central Command said that US forces earlier completed a verification boarding of the Comoros-flagged tanker M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea.

Describing the operation, CENTCOM said: “Earlier today, US forces completed a verification boarding aboard Comoros-flagged M/T Charminar in the Arabian Sea, and the tanker is now continuing its journey.”

CENTCOM also announced action against another vessel, saying American forces had disabled the Mozambique-flagged tanker M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman after its crew allegedly attempted to breach the blockade.

According to the command, “CENTCOM forces disabled Mozambique-flagged M/T Lavine in the Gulf of Oman on July 24 after the crew attempted to violate the blockade multiple times and ignored repeated warnings. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran.”

The military command emphasised that US forces remain prepared for further operations in the region, saying: “American forces remain highly vigilant, focused, lethal, and ready.”

Lucknow, July 26: A hoax bomb threat call triggered a major security operation at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport in Lucknow on Friday night, prompting multiple security agencies to conduct an extensive search of the airport premises before confirming that the alert was false, officials said on Sunday.

Police have since traced the mobile number used to make the call to Kanpur and booked 30-year-old Shyam Sundar, a resident of the Bidhuna area in Kanpur’s Jaisinghpur, for questioning.

According to airport sources, a bomb threat was reported through a call made to Dial 112 at around 11:45 p.m. on Friday, setting off an immediate response from security and emergency agencies.

Teams from the bomb disposal squad, dog squad, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the fire brigade rushed to the airport and launched a comprehensive search operation.

Following the alert, the entire airport complex, including the cargo terminal and all entry gates, was thoroughly inspected.

Security personnel also carried out detailed checks of passengers and their baggage between 12 a.m. and 1 a.m. as part of the precautionary measures.

Despite the intensive hour-long search, no suspicious object or explosive material was found anywhere on the premises.

Officials said that when security agencies attempted to contact the person who had made the bomb threat, the mobile phone was found switched off.

After completing the search and verification process, authorities concluded that the threat call was a hoax, bringing relief to airport officials and security personnel.

Taking the matter seriously, police registered a non-cognisable report (NCR) at around 11 a.m. on Sunday based on the mobile number provided by Sub-Inspector Nishu Chaudhary of Sarojini Nagar police station.

The number was subsequently tracked through surveillance, which revealed its location in the Kanpur district.

Acting on the surveillance inputs, a police team detained Shyam Sundar.

The accused is currently being questioned by the police to ascertain the motive behind making the false bomb threat call and to determine the circumstances under which the fraudulent alert was issued.