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Delhi land scam accused surrenders in Zee News studio
NEW DELHI: In his attempt to emphasise that his life was in danger and he may be forced to speak before being produced in court, Ashok Malhotra who is the alleged kingpin of the multi-million Delhi land scam surrendered to the Central Bureau of Investigation at the Zee News Studio in Noida.
Before the surrender, Malhotra during the course of his interview with Zee News had made some startling revelations. He said his life was in danger, his relatives had been manhandled at home by the CBI, and he would only reveal everything in court. He admitted to knowing some officers of the Delhi Development Authority and to have relations with some local Bharatiya Janata Party leaders. He denied ever having met Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit or having relations with Delhi Congress chief Ram Babu Sharma.
He admitted that “MLAs Kunwar Karan Pal Singh and Surendra Singh Bittoo had helped in getting the VIP numbers for his cars,” but said he had only 17 cars and six motor cycles.
He said, “There is no case against me and my property is not more than Rs 100 million”, and denied he had papers of 5500 plots.
Malhotra is alleged to have acquired land meant for slum colonies and then sold these off at exorbitant prices.
The scam was unearthed during a CBI raid that is alleged to have yielded land papers of no less than 5500 plots in Delhi and over 50 cars with VIP numbers. The accused runs the canteen at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha and is alleged to have strong connections with key leaders across the political spectrum.
This is not the first time that an accused has surrendered in the studios of a television channel. Sahil, an accused in the drugs case against BJP leader Pramod Mahajan’s son Rahul, had surrendered to police in the studios of Aaj Tak in Srinagar in June last year.
News Broadcasting
Induction cooktop demand spikes 30× amid LPG supply concerns
Supply worries linked to West Asia tensions push households and restaurants to turn to electric cooking alternatives
MUMBAI: As geopolitical tensions in West Asia ripple through global energy supply chains, the familiar blue flame in Indian kitchens is facing an unexpected challenger: electricity.
What began as concerns over the availability of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) has quickly evolved into a technology-driven shift in cooking habits. Households across India are increasingly turning to induction cooktops and other electric appliances, initially as a backup but now, for many, a necessity.
A sudden surge in demand
Recent data from quick-commerce and grocery platform BigBasket highlights the scale of the shift. According to Seshu Kumar Tirumala, the company’s chief buying and merchandising officer, demand for induction cooktops has risen dramatically.
“Induction cooktops have seen a significant surge in demand, recording a fivefold jump on 10 March and a thirtyfold spike on 11 March,” Tirumala said.
The increase stands out sharply when compared with broader kitchen appliance trends. Most appliance categories are growing within 10 per cent of their typical demand levels, while induction cooktops have witnessed explosive growth as households rush to secure an alternative cooking option.
Major e-commerce platforms including Amazon and Flipkart have reported rising searches and orders for induction stoves. Quick-commerce apps such as Blinkit and Zepto have also witnessed stock shortages in major metropolitan areas including Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.
What was once considered a convenient appliance for hostels, small kitchens or occasional use has suddenly become an essential addition in many homes.
A crisis thousands of miles away
The trigger for this shift lies far beyond India’s kitchens.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has disrupted shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. Nearly 85 to 90 per cent of India’s LPG imports pass through this narrow waterway, making the country particularly vulnerable to supply disruptions.
The ripple effects have been swift.
India currently meets roughly 60 per cent of its LPG demand through imports, and tightening global supply has already begun to affect domestic availability and prices.
Earlier this month, the price of domestic LPG cylinders increased by Rs 60, while commercial cylinders rose by more than Rs 114.
To discourage panic buying and hoarding, the government has also extended the mandatory waiting period between domestic refill bookings from 21 days to 25 days.
Restaurants feel the pressure
The strain is not limited to households. Restaurants, hotels and roadside eateries are also grappling with supply constraints as commercial LPG availability tightens under restrictions imposed through the Essential Commodities Act.
In cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai, restaurant associations report that commercial LPG availability has dropped by as much as 75 per cent, forcing many establishments to rethink their kitchen operations.
Some restaurants have reduced menu offerings, while others are rapidly installing high-efficiency induction systems, creating hybrid kitchens where electricity now shares the workload with gas.
For smaller eateries and roadside dhabas, the shift is less about sustainability and more about survival.
A potential structural shift
The government has maintained that there is no nationwide LPG crisis and has directed refineries to increase production to stabilise supply.
Nevertheless, the developments of March 2026 may already be triggering a longer-term behavioural shift.
For decades, LPG has been the backbone of cooking in Indian households. However, recent disruptions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single fuel source.
Increasingly, households appear to be hedging against uncertainty by adopting electric cooking options to guard against price volatility and delivery delays.
If the current trend continues, the induction cooktop, once viewed as a niche appliance, could emerge as a quiet symbol of India’s evolving kitchen economy.
