Petrol continues to climb, diesel prices unchanged
New Delhi, Sep 21 : Petrol prices in Mumbai inched up to the psychological Rs 90 a litre-mark and sold at Rs 89.69 in the country's financial capital on Friday, even as the fuel climbed to fresh highs across the four metros, while diesel rates were unchanged for the third consecutive day.
In the national capital, petrol was sold at Rs 82.32 per litre, up from Rs 82.22 per litre on Thursday, data on the Indian Oil Corp's website showed.
In the other key cities of Kolkata and Chennai, the fuel was priced on Friday at Rs 84.16 and Rs 85.58 per litre, respectively, up from Rs 84.07 and Rs 85.48 per litre.
The cost of transportation fuel has been on the rise since August 1, largely because of high crude oil prices and a falling rupee. Depreciation in the Indian rupee against the US dollar makes the import of crude oil expensive as transaction is done in dollars.
Inflationary risks along with broadly negative global cues depressed the Indian rupee to a new low of 72.91 against the US dollar on Tuesday.
Prices of the other key transportation fuel, diesel, however, was unchanged on Friday for the third day in a row.
Diesel prices in Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai were unchanged at Rs 73.87, Rs 75.72, Rs 78.42 and Rs 78.10 per litre, respectively.
Sector experts feel that high excise duty in the country also aided the high prices.
Cost of the fuel in all the key cities except Kolkata are at their record levels. The all-time high price of diesel in the West Bengal capital was Rs 75.82, recorded on September 11.
Earlier this week, the West Bengal government reduced the excise on petrol and diesel by Re 1 per litre each.
The Karnataka government also announced on Monday that petrol and diesel would be cheaper by Rs 2 per litre each across the state from Tuesday following the reduction in cess on these fuels.
As per the country's pricing mechanism, the domestic fuel prices depend upon the international fuel prices on a 15-day average and the value of the rupee.
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Pune journalist booked on voyeurism charge for filming woman at lodge
Pune (PTI): Police have registered a case of voyeurism against a television journalist in Pune for allegedly filming a woman in an objectionable position without her consent at a lodge in the city, officials said on Saturday.
The FIR was filed against Rohan Kadam under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 77 (voyeurism) and 3(5) (common intention) at the Vishrambaug police station here, while the complaint mentions that he was accompanied by three other journalists, they said.
The incident took place on April 8 when the accused had checked into a room at a lodge in Budhwar Peth, which houses a red light area.
In her complaint, the woman said that while she was wearing her saree after establishing "physical relations with a customer", she realised that an unidentified person was filming her through a net above the partition wall between the rooms.
She opened the door of her room and knocked on the adjacent door, asking the person to come out, the FIR said.
"The woman sought clarification from Kadam, who gave vague answers and refused to show his phone. When the lodge operator, the woman and others questioned him, he claimed that they were a group of four journalists conducting a sting operation," it said.
Police said Kadam was assaulted when he allegedly tried to flee from the spot.
The woman later approached the Vishrambaug police station and lodged a complaint.
"We have registered a case in this regard and further probe is on," a police officer said.
Meanwhile, the Pune Union of Working Journalists (PUWJ) has written a letter to city Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, seeking action against the journalist for the alleged act.
In the letter, the journalists' body said there were murmurs that some journalists and others were trying to ensure that no offence is registered in the matter.
"We do not agree with this and clarify that PUWJ will not come in the way of the probe," the letter stated.
