Police identified the arrested accused as Milind Koli, Shubham Patil and Rohit Gautam Sonwane. The arrests were made after an intensive operation involving seven police teams, technical surveillance and human intelligence inputs. Officials said two other accused, Kishan Parmar and Pankaj Patil, remain absconding and a search operation is underway.

According to investigators, the murder stemmed from an old rivalry. Police said Jay Dalal had a dispute with Kishan Parmar, Pankaj Patil and Milind Koli around three months ago, following which legal action had been taken against the accused. Investigators believe the accused harboured resentment and allegedly planned the attack.

On May 18 at around 12.30 pm, Jay was standing with friends near a scrap shop on Udhna Road No. 6 when the accused allegedly attacked him with sharp weapons, inflicting serious injuries to his stomach, ear, cheek and thigh. He later died during treatment at a hospital.

Police said the accused fled Surat immediately after the murder and travelled by road to Jalgaon while attempting to evade CCTV surveillance. Investigators claimed they used a planned escape route, transporting their two-wheeler in trucks and other heavy vehicles along highways to avoid detection.

Police records show that prime accused Kishan Parmar has a long criminal history, with around 18 serious cases, including assault and intimidation, registered against him. He had also faced action under PASA and had recently returned to Surat after completing his detention period. Milind Koli also has four criminal cases registered against him, including attempted murder and assault-related offences.

Further investigation is underway. DeshGujarat

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The action was initiated following an investigation ordered by Dr. Hitesh Brahmbhatt, Additional Director, Medical Services, Government of Gujarat. The PMJAY-MA scheme provides cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh annually to poor and middle-class families. Officials said the hospital allegedly violated mandatory norms and eligibility criteria prescribed under the scheme.

A recent audit conducted by Bajaj Insurance TPA Services Pvt. Ltd. reportedly found serious discrepancies in hospital records. The findings, which were also acknowledged by hospital authorities in official documentation, were placed before the executive committee. Following approval from the competent authority, the hospital director was served a show-cause notice and penal action was initiated.

One of the most serious findings involved 76 surgeries that were recorded on the government portal under the name of Dr. Srinivas Kumaran, who was associated with the hospital only until December 2024. However, records showed that surgeries continued to be logged under his name until October 2025.

During the inquiry, the hospital stated that the surgeries had actually been performed by Dr. S. Dinesh. However, officials found that Dr. Dinesh allegedly did not possess the required GMC or NMC registration and was not listed as an authorized surgeon on the government portal during that period, making him ineligible to legally perform surgeries under the scheme.

The audit also revealed another alleged violation involving knee replacement surgeries. Examination of online TMS records reportedly showed that more than three Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgeries had been performed in a single day at the hospital. Health Department rules permit an orthopedic surgeon to perform a maximum of three such surgeries per day.

Authorities imposed a penalty of ₹12,50,487, equivalent to 10 percent of the total claim amount of ₹1.25 crore linked to the 76 surgeries allegedly conducted by unauthorized doctors. The hospital has been directed to deposit the amount into the State Nodal Cell account under the scheme within seven days.

The government has also instructed the hospital to submit an affidavit on official stamp paper stating that any future violation of scheme guidelines could invite immediate suspension or de-empanelment. DeshGujarat

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The fire broke out at Faith Industrial Limited on Friday evening in raw materials used in the chemical and plastic industry. Due to the highly inflammable nature of the materials, the flames rapidly spread through the entire unit and eventually affected the adjacent Techno Instruments factory, intensifying the scale of destruction.

According to the fire department, an emergency call regarding the incident was received at the fire control room at 5:08 pm on Friday. Fire stations at Thaltej and Chandkheda were immediately alerted, and the first fire vehicle reached the site within minutes at 5:10 pm. Given the intensity of the blaze, authorities launched a large-scale firefighting and rescue operation.

A total of 15 fire vehicles and 98 personnel were deployed to control the fire. The operation involved six 20 KL water bowsers, one EMT vehicle and eight first responder Bolero vehicles.

The firefighting team included 64 firemen, six Jamadars, 20 drivers, three sub-officers, three station officers, one Divisional Fire Officer and one Additional Chief Fire Officer.

Officials said the fire was brought completely under control after several hours of intensive efforts. However, during the search operation, the body of one person was found inside the factory premises at around 7 am on Saturday. The body was later handed over to local police for further investigation.

Authorities said no other injuries were reported in the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined. DeshGujarat

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The development comes at a time when global crude supply chains continue to face disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, including the Russia–Ukraine conflict and concerns over the Strait of Hormuz. Despite international uncertainty, India has managed to keep fuel price increases relatively moderate through a series of fiscal interventions and government measures.

The data also indicate that several BJP-ruled states have relatively lower petrol prices. Other BJP-governed states such as Uttar Pradesh and Delhi reported petrol rates of ₹99.5 per litre, while Haryana stood at ₹99.7 and Goa at ₹101.3.

In contrast, states with higher petrol prices included Andhra Pradesh at ₹117.8 per litre, despite being governed by the NDA alliance that includes the BJP, while Telangana at ₹115.7 and Kerala at ₹112.3, both ruled by opposition parties, sell the most expensive fuel in the nation.

The variation in petrol prices is largely driven by state-imposed Value Added Tax (VAT), cess, local levies, and transportation costs. Since fuel pricing includes both central excise duties and state taxes, retail prices vary considerably across states.

Global Context: India vs the World

While several countries have witnessed sharp fuel inflation, India’s petrol and diesel prices increased by only 5.0% and 5.3%, respectively, between February and May 2026. This was significantly lower than several other nations:

• Myanmar: Petrol prices surged by 89.7%

• Pakistan: Prices climbed by 54.9%

• United States: Consumers saw a 44.5% increase

• United Kingdom: Prices rose by 19.2%

A Strategy of Fiscal Intervention

The relative stability of fuel prices in India has been attributed to a multi-year strategy involving central excise duty cuts and the absorption of international price shocks by the government and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs).

Key fiscal measures include:

Successive excise cuts: Major reductions were implemented in November 2021 and May 2022, followed by additional cuts in 2024 and 2025.

Zero diesel duty: On March 27, 2026, ahead of the Hormuz-related disruption, the government reduced the Special Additional Excise Duty (SAED), effectively bringing diesel duty to zero while absorbing the financial impact.

OMC revisions: Fuel prices remained stable for over two months during the West Asia crisis. After nearly four years of largely steady rates, OMCs resumed periodic revisions in May 2026. The latest increase on May 23 added ₹0.87 per litre to petrol and ₹0.91 per litre to diesel.

The Financial Cushion

This protection for consumers has come at a significant fiscal cost. Between February 23 and May 23, 2026, the government and OMCs reportedly absorbed around ₹30,000 crore during the 84-day Hormuz disruption to shield consumers from major price shocks.

The government has also cleared historical liabilities by redeeming more than ₹1.30 lakh crore in principal and interest linked to UPA-era oil bonds.

Additional support measures included ₹40,000 crore absorbed for LPG protection in FY 2024–25 and ₹24,500 crore during the initial years of the Russia–Ukraine conflict to keep fuel prices stable.

Future Outlook: Beyond Fuel Prices

To strengthen long-term energy security, the government is balancing immediate consumer relief with structural changes. These efforts include diversifying crude sourcing and expanding investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles (EVs), and green hydrogen to reduce India’s long-term dependence on volatile global oil markets.

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Dhvanit Rajdeep, a resident of Ahmedabad, had initially gone to Ukraine to pursue his medical studies. However, due to the war situation there, he relocated and has been pursuing his MBBS at Caucasus International University in Georgia for the past two years.

Dhvanit’s father, Mayurbhai Rajdeep, while speaking to the media, made serious allegations regarding the circumstances leading up to his son’s disappearance. According to him, Dhvanit had been facing severe mental harassment from some individuals staying with him at the hostel.

He was scheduled to return to India, but allegedly went missing before leaving for the airport. Since then, his mobile phone has remained switched off and unreachable. His family, who have received no information regarding his whereabouts, say they are devastated and desperately waiting for updates.

The family suspects that the alleged mental harassment may have pushed Dhvanit into severe distress, leading him either to leave without informing anyone or possibly become a victim of an untoward incident.

According to the family, they have informed the local police in Georgia, the Indian Embassy, and university authorities both verbally and in writing. However, despite several days having passed, no significant breakthrough has reportedly been made in the investigation, and Dhvanit’s whereabouts remain unknown.

In an emotional appeal, Mayurbhai urged the central government and the Prime Minister’s Office to intervene immediately. He said all possible authorities had already been informed, but no concrete outcome had been achieved so far.

The incident has also sparked anxiety among families of Indian students studying abroad, once again raising concerns over student welfare and safety in foreign countries. DeshGujarat

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The civic body plans to conduct the survey using GPS and Google mapping technology, with teams visiting different parts of the city to record the location and details of stray dogs. Officials said the exercise will collect data on the number of male and female dogs, puppies below six months of age, adults, and breed-wise distribution.

The last stray dog census in Vadodara was carried out in 2014, when the city recorded around 44,000 stray dogs. At the time, sterilisation efforts mainly focused on female dogs. Since 2015, the corporation has expanded the programme to include male dogs as well.

The fresh census is expected to reveal whether years of sterilisation campaigns have helped reduce the stray dog population or whether the numbers have continued to rise.

According to reports, around 10 employees are expected to carry out the survey and complete the exercise in approximately 20 days. However, concerns have been raised over the feasibility of covering the entire city within such a short period, as teams will need to visit every locality and street.

The upcoming survey is expected to provide updated data that could help authorities plan future measures to manage the stray dog population and address public concerns. DeshGujarat

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The accused Khushmanbhai Revashankar Patel, his wife Punitaben, and son Smit Patel, residents of Tadwadi-Rander  were arrested by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the city police following a complaint filed by investor Chandreshbhai Jayantilal Lakdawala. Police have also registered a case against two Maharashtra residents linked to the project.

According to police, Chandreshbhai Lakdawala, 55, a resident of Wadia Nagar in Adajan and a stock trader with an office at Pal, was approached by the Patel family in 2018 with a proposal to invest in a large tourism project at Lakkadkot village in Navapur taluka of Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district.

The project involved developing Roccia Hill Resort and Adventure Park along with Jalsa Bar and Restaurant. The accused allegedly claimed they owned land worth crores and sought investors due to a funding shortage. Lured by promises of high monthly returns, Lakdawala and his associates, Gautam Babu Jain, Paresh Harilal Parmar and Pravin Babu Parmar, agreed to join the venture after visiting the project site.

Police said Lakdawala invested Rs 1.38 crore between 2019 and 2023, while Gautam Jain and Paresh Parmar invested around Rs 5.25 crore through their families. Another investor, Pravin Parmar, invested Rs 75 lakh. Together, the total investment allegedly reached Rs 12.63 crore.

Investigators said the accused initially paid returns between February 2023 and July 2024 to gain the investors’ trust. However, despite the business reportedly performing well, payments later stopped and financial accounts were not shared with partners.

According to the complaint, the accused later changed the name of Jalsa Bar and Restaurant to Hotel Grand Carnival Permit Room and Beer Bar, obtained a new GST registration and allegedly removed the original investors from the business without notice.

Police further said the investors later found that a 25-year lease agreement related to adjacent land for the restaurant project had allegedly not been legally registered, despite assurances given during the partnership process.

The dispute escalated when investors sought details of an estimated profit of Rs 5.50 crore generated from the business. The complainants alleged they received evasive responses and were eventually barred from entering the premises after a notice prohibiting their entry was put up at the project gate in October 2025.

Police said further investigation is underway to determine the money trail and identify any additional persons involved in the alleged fraud. DeshGujarat

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According to the weather bulletin issued on May 23, isolated rainfall activity is likely in South Gujarat districts including Narmada, Navsari, Valsad, Dang and Tapi, along with Daman and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. In Saurashtra, Rajkot, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir Somnath districts, as well as the Union Territory of Diu, may also receive light showers accompanied by thunderstorms.

The weather department has predicted dry conditions across the remaining parts of Gujarat, Kutch and other regions during the period. No rainfall activity has been forecast for the state from May 24 to May 30.

The IMD said no major change in maximum temperatures is expected over the next seven days, with temperatures likely to remain above 40 degrees Celsius in isolated pockets across Gujarat.

Surendranagar recorded the highest maximum temperature in the state at 43.8°C over the past 24 hours. Ahmedabad is also expected to witness mainly clear skies, with the maximum temperature likely to touch 43°C on Saturday.

It also noted that conditions remain favourable for the further advancement of the southwest monsoon over parts of the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal in the coming days. DeshGujarat

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The accused, Harshsiddh Kadiyar, served as joint custodian of the RBI currency chest housed at the Bank of Baroda branch in Kalupur. According to a complaint filed by the branch chief manager at Kalupur police station, an audit and verification by newly appointed custodians found a shortage of Rs 8.70 crore in Rs 500 denomination notes.

During the investigation, police found that Kadiyar had allegedly smuggled out cash-filled boxes from the bank by claiming they contained scrap material. CCTV footage from January 13 reportedly showed him leaving the premises with boxes while informing staff that he was disposing of scrap.

Police said Kadiyar continued working for nearly three months after the alleged theft, apparently believing the CCTV footage would be automatically deleted after 90 days. On April 13, he informed the bank that he was unwell and took leave. After extending his medical leave, he stopped reporting for duty from April 20 onwards.

Acting on the complaint, a team led by PSI V.H. Rathod of the Zone-3 LCB squad tracked down and arrested Kadiyar from the Sola area of Ahmedabad. Police recovered Rs 2.20 crore in cash from an Ertiga car parked near his residence in an AUDA housing complex. The vehicle and his mobile phone were also seized.

Investigators said the accused had already spent a substantial portion of the stolen money. Police found that he had purchased a bungalow worth over Rs 2 crore and a shop valued at Rs 1.40 crore in Chandkheda. He had also allegedly bought a small commercial vehicle and invested some of the funds in cryptocurrency.

Police further revealed that Kadiyar had allegedly given Rs 28 lakh to a woman colleague, Vaishaliben, reportedly to help her purchase a house. Authorities are examining the nature of the transactions.

Investigators said Kadiyar had been working with Bank of Baroda for the past 15 years and allegedly admitted to committing the theft to fund a more luxurious lifestyle.

Police also revealed that after the case surfaced, Kadiyar travelled to Manali with his family. However, after learning that a complaint had been filed and police were searching for him, he allegedly fled.

His wife is employed as a head constable in the Railway Police, and investigators are examining whether she had any knowledge of or involvement in the case. Two other individuals linked to cash transportation operations — identified as Sultan and Zulfikar — have also been detained for questioning as the probe continues. DeshGujarat

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The first incident occurred on May 22 at Ghantiwala Garden on Ghod Dod Road. Eight-year-old Ananya Raju Herode had gone to the garden with her family when a stray dog allegedly attacked her after spotting an ice cream bag she was carrying.

According to Civil Hospital sources, Ananya was returning with the ice cream when the dog apparently mistook the bag for food and suddenly turned aggressive. Before people around could react, the dog pounced on her and caused serious injuries. She was taken to Civil Hospital in a bleeding condition.

Her mother, Sangeetaben, said several stray dogs were roaming inside the garden. “I heard my daughter screaming and immediately rushed her to Civil Hospital,” she said.

In another incident around 6 pm the same day, six-year-old Ronit Singh of Gokuldham Society in Kadodara’s Tatithaiya area was attacked by three stray dogs while he was out with his family near a canal.

Family members said the dogs knocked him to the ground and bit him on several parts of his body, including his legs, neck, head and ears. He was shifted to New Civil Hospital and is undergoing treatment.

Ronit’s father, Karan Kumar Singh, said this was the third major dog attack in the area and claimed packs of stray dogs frequently roam the locality. He said two teenage girls nearby helped save his son by driving away the dogs.

The incidents triggered anger among local residents, who accused authorities of failing to address the growing stray dog problem despite repeated attacks. DeshGujarat

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The move follows a long campaign that began in 2018, when activists demanded the introduction of an online RTI system in Gujarat. With limited response from the government, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was later filed in the Gujarat High Court, which eventually led to the launch of a limited online portal in 2021.

Rajkot-based RTI activist Shailendrasinh Jadeja played a key role in pushing for the initiative. However, the portal initially covered only 27 Secretariat departments, leaving district and taluka-level offices outside its scope.

After years of efforts, the Urban Development Department has now confirmed that all municipalities and seven municipal corporations have been integrated into the portal. Meanwhile, the Home Department has instructed Inspector General of Police (IGP) offices to bring police units onto the online system. However, uncertainty still remains regarding the inclusion of district and taluka panchayats.

According to the State Information Commission’s annual report, the Revenue, Home, and Urban Development departments receive the highest number of RTI applications. Despite this, these departments, along with the General Administration Department, resisted online integration for several years. Officials only began mapping offices under their jurisdiction from April 2026 onward.

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