Snapdeal employee case: Accused inspired by SRK's film 'Darr'

February 15, 2016

Ghaziabad, Feb 15: Five persons were today arrested in connection with the mysterious abduction of Snapdeal executive Deepti Sarna, with police saying that the prime accused was a Bollywood-inspired "psychopath" who was tracking her for around a year and wanted to win her heart.

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SSP Dharmendra Singh, who had earlier indicated possible contradictions in the woman's version on the day she was traced, today gave a clean chit to her, saying her version was right.

The prime accused has as many as 30 cases registered against him and he escaped from police custody in Sonepat during a court hearing in June 2014, and around seven months later he saw Sarna with a male friend at Rajiv Chowk Metro Station and fell in love with her, the official said.

"The accused was highly inspired by Bollywood movie Darr, in which Shahrukh Khan's character gets obsessed with a woman, he read Adolf Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' during the time he spent in jail and was inspired by the relationship between Hitler and Eva Braun, and he also took inspiration from the life and struggle of Genghis Khan," the official said.

The accused started tracking Sarna's movements and soon bought two auto-rickshaws to execute his plans of abducting her. He tried to do so several times but failed as Sarna, who used to deboard metro at Ghaziabad's Vaishali station, always preferred taking shared autos in which a few women were already seated, Singh said.

On February 10, he along with his associates, managed to puncture the auto-rickshaw in which Sarna and several others were travelling and intercepted the vehicle with his own auto, in which three of the co-accused were present, and convinced the driver of the punctured vehicle to shift the passengers, of which three were women (including Sarna), to his vehicle, the official said.

There were two vacant seats in the autorickshaw, and it was Sarna and another woman who decided to board it as they were in a rush to reach their destinations. During the journey, the accused men present in the auto, pulled out a knife and threatened the other woman asking her to step out of the vehicle. Once she obliged, they blindfolded Sarna, pointed a gun at her and headed towards an undisclosed location, the official said.

On their way, the autorickshaw in which Sarna was being taken to, broke down. Meanwhile, the prime accused was following her in a car. At the point where the auto-rickshaw broke down, the accused men dumped her mobile phone (which the police have failed to recover) and backpack behind an under-construction bungalow.

"The accused is a psychopath, for which the motive behind the crime could not be cracked. He had not disclosed about his motive even to any of the co-accused. To some of them he said that the woman they were to abduct was a hawala operator and she could fetch them crores and to others who were roped in into the plan later he said that he needed men to thrash a person," the senior official said.

From the spot of the auto-breakdown, the prime accused made Sarna sit in his car and headed towards his native village. On the way, his vehicle ran out of gas for which he borrowed his cousin's car and continued the journey towards a village in UP's Baghpat.

There they held Sarna captive for a night, during which the prime accused did his best to convince her that he did not want to hurt her and it were his co-accused who had actually abducted her.

He played the 'hero' and, meanwhile, kept telling Sarna that it was her male friend (with whom he often used to see Sarna) who had ulterior motives and wanted to kill Sarna's relatives, the senior official said.

The next morning, the prime accused took Sarna to a railway station and made her sit on a train heading towards Delhi. By then Sarna was convinced that he was her saviour and even during her interaction with the SSP (Ghaziabad) she requested him not to take any action against the man, who later turned out to be the main accused.

Sarna then borrowed a co-passenger's phone and called up her father and later reached home. "The accused have to be interrogated for further details," the official added.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 16,2025

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Melkar (Bantwal): The 9th Annual Day celebration of SMR Public School, titled “EXCELLENTIA”, was held on December 15 with great enthusiasm and dignity, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s journey towards academic excellence and holistic development.

The programme was inaugurated by Dr. U. T. Iftikar Ali. The chief guests were Dr. Akhtar Hussain, Mr. P. Moosabba Beary, Mr. Zakaria Jokattre, and Dr. T. M. Abdul Rahuf—whose inspiring addresses motivated the students and appreciated the school’s contributions to education.

Mr. Abdul Nasir, Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar, Mr. Razak Golthamajal, Mr. Sali Koya, Mr. Arshad Hussain, Mr. Ismail Balanoor, Mr. Feroz Bawa, Mr. Sahul Hameed, Mr. Abubakkar, Mr. Hameed K. Mani, Mr. Abdul Majeed (Principal, Melkar Women’s College), and Mr. Abdul Lathief (Former Principal, Melkar Women’s College) were the guests of honour.

The Annual Report was presented by the Headmistress, Ms. Fathimathul Zaheera, highlighting the school’s achievements and progress during the academic year. The Presidential Address was delivered by the Chairman of SMR Public School, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasised the vital role of education in shaping students’ futures and stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and consistent effort in achieving 100 per cent academic results.

Secretary of SMR Public School, Mr. Rifath Ahmed, and PTA President, Mr. Sandeep Kumar, were also present on the occasion.

The Annual Day celebration showcased the collective efforts of students and teachers and reaffirmed the school’s commitment to quality education and all-round development. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all dignitaries, parents, and well-wishers for their support. The 9th Annual Day—EXCELLENTIA—was a memorable and successful event, leaving a lasting impression on everyone present. 

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News Network
December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

•    Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

•    STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

•    Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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