New Delhi, Aug 22: In a major crackdown on the illegal transportation and supply of liquor, the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) team of the North-East District of Delhi Police arrested three persons and recovered 778 quarters of Haryana-marked illicit liquor along with two taxis allegedly used to transport the consignment.

The action was carried out on August 21, 2026, after Head Constable Deepak, along with Head Constable Anuj and Constable Mukesh, was conducting area patrolling duty near Maujpur Chowk.

At around 6:30 a.m., the police team received information from a secret informer that two taxis carrying illicit liquor from Haryana would arrive near Seelampur Metro Station. The taxis’ numbers were also shared by the informer.

Acting on the information, the police team reached the location. At around 7:30 a.m., both taxis arrived and were intercepted. Three persons were apprehended, while another individual reportedly managed to flee from the spot.

A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of 399 quarters of illicit liquor from taxi HR55AX3345 and 379 quarters from taxi DL1ZD5015, taking the total recovery to 778 quarters.

The arrested accused have been identified as Vinit Chauhan (35), owner of taxi bearing number — HR55AX3345; Akash Sharma (25), driver of taxi bearing number — DL1ZD5015; and Vishal (23), who was allegedly accompanying the other accused.

During interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed information about the source of the illicit liquor. Police are verifying the information and conducting further investigation to identify other individuals allegedly involved in the supply chain.

A case has been registered as FIR No. 288/26 under Section 33 of the Delhi Excise Act at Seelampur Police Station. Police said none of the three arrested accused has any previous criminal involvement on record. Further investigation is underway, according to police.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) suspended the food licences of prominent South Mumbai establishments, including The Bombay Presidency Radio Club, the Colaba outlet of McDonald’s and the Status Restaurant in Nariman Point, following surprise inspections in August.

The FDA has suspended the food licence of The Bombay Presidency Radio Club due to severe violations of safety and hygiene regulations. During the inspection of the club’s kitchen on Wednesday, officials found a massive breach of food safety and sanitation standards.

The inspection uncovered active fly infestations in various kitchen areas, a dead cockroach, and open cockroach traps in the utensil-washing zone.

Authorities found flaking ceiling plaster directly over food preparation areas, posing a risk of falling into food, as well as washing powders and chemicals stored right alongside food items.

Utensils and food products were discovered to be kept directly on the floor, non-vegetarian refrigerators were unhygienic, and food items were not being thawed properly.

Staff members’ sweaty helmets and clothing were found stored alongside food, kitchen doors were improperly sealed, waste bins were placed next to cooking stoves, and signs of spitting were noticed on the premises.

The inspection revealed an overall non-compliance rate of 47 per cent by the establishment.

Citing public health and safety, the FDA suspended the licence under Section 32(3) of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006.

The club has been ordered to immediately halt all food purchases, sales, and distribution during the suspension period, with a warning of stern legal action for any violations.

Authorities found widespread disregard for basic protocols, such as staff handling food without washing hands, uncalibrated refrigeration units, and a complete lack of temperature monitoring logs.

The McDonald’s kiosk in Colaba was penalised for failing 18 out of 20 safety points, submitting falsified 148-page compliance reports, and deceptively using cheese analogues without menu declarations.

Operating licences have been suspended with immediate effect under the FSS Act, 2006, barring all food manufacturing, sales, and distribution until full compliance is legally verified.

Following the raids, McDonald’s said they have zero-tolerance towards food safety hazards and are reviewing the FDA report.

“At McDonald’s, we take pride in maintaining high food safety standards across our restaurants and have a zero-tolerance approach to food safety issues. We respect the regulatory process and are reviewing the observations referenced in the report,” McDonald’s said in a statement.

“McDonald’s follows rigorous food quality, safety and hygiene standards, in line with regulatory requirements, including the use of real cheese and real paneer in our food. We believe it is important that our practices are accurately understood and represented. Our focus remains on delivering the quality and experience expected from us every day. Customers have always been welcome to take a kitchen tour and learn more about our food preparation practices,” the statement further read.

Along with the prominent South Mumbai establishments, the FDA has suspended the food registration certificate of the Khar Gymkhana due to severe hygiene lapses and critical food safety violations.

Inspections exposed a high risk of cross-contamination from unsegregated raw, cooked, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian foods. Hazardous storage of chemicals and a complete lack of pest control traps was also found. 

The establishment has been ordered to immediately halt all food production, storage, purchase, sale, and distribution activities during the suspension period.

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Shaikh has demanded that the proposed educational field trip to Keshav Srushti in Attan, Bhayander for students of Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools be cancelled, and that a complete ban be imposed on it, slamming the “saffronisation of education” by the BMC administration. The proposal to take class VII students from BMC schools of all mediums on an environmental study and training field trip to Keshav Srushti in Attan, Bhayander will be considered in the standing committee meeting on August 28. The civic body is expected to spend Rs 2.43 crore on the trip. MLA Raees Shaikh has written a letter to BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, demanding cancellation of the proposal. “Keshav Sruthi was established as an organisation in memory of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. BJP and RSS functionaries undergo training there. RSS is the ideological umbrella organisation of BJP and aims to establish a “Hindu Rashtra”. Taking BMC school students on a field trip to an institution like Keshav Sruthi, which has a religiously biased character, is tantamount to “saffronisation of education”. The BMC administration is accountable to the Constitution and our Constitution is secular. It is unconstitutional for students to organise an educational field trip to an institution with religious purposes.” Shaikh also referred to an incident during the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya in January 2024, when BMC schools had organised a competition on the life and character of Lord Ram. The move faced opposition at the time. Shaikh said, “Regardless of which BMC school The political party is in power, the administration cannot work for religious purposes, said the Shaikh. He also demanded that the institutional legacy of the BMC be preserved and not compromised.