from India
WORLDWIDE TAXI FOCUS from USA
‘DOCTOR DEATH’ WHO MURDERED DOZENS OF CABBIES APPREHENDED
Devendra Sharma, the infamous Ayurvedic doctor turned serial killer dubbed 'Doctor Death', has been recaptured by Delhi Police's Crime Branch after spending months on the run. The 67-year-old convict, who allegedly murdered over 50 individuals, primarily taxi drivers whose bodies he fed to crocodiles, was found disguised as a spiritual leader in a secluded monastery in Rajasthan. Sharma had been at large since August 2023, when he was on temporary release from jail. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Aditya Gautam stated that Sharma's arrest followed a “long, covert operation.” Gautam added: “We launched a search operation in several cities. His identity was finally established through forged documents.” The six- month-long manhunt concluded with Sharma's capture at the monastery where he had been preaching to followers under a fake identity. Sharma was serving a life sentence for a brutal spree of murders committed between 2002 and 2004. Police describe his chilling modus operandi: he would lure unsuspecting taxi and truck drivers under the guise of booking services, then kill them, and dispose of their bodies in a crocodile-infested canal to eliminate evidence. While police estimate at least 50 victims, some reports suggest the number could exceed 100. Before his turn to serial murder, Sharma was deeply involved in an illicit kidney smuggling racket. Between 1995 and 2004, he allegedly orchestrated a nationwide illegal kidney
transplant network,
facilitating over 125 transplants by coercing or persuading poor individuals to part with their organs for wealthy recipients. Police sources also revealed Sharma's involvement in a range of other criminal activities, including theft, kidnapping, and smuggling. He is accused of robbing trucks, murdering the drivers, and selling the stolen cargo on the black market. Sharma currently faces charges in 27 cases spanning multiple categories of crime. Authorities anticipate his re-arrest will provide new insights into unresolved murders and trafficking operations linked to his extensive criminal past.
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NYC FINALLY HITS 50% WAV YELLOW CAB TARGET AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS
After enduring multiple missed deadlines, New York City has finally fulfilled a legal commitment to make half of its operational yellow taxi fleet wheelchair accessible. The Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC) confirmed on June 5 that 50.7% of currently active yellow cabs are now equipped with ramps for wheelchair and scooter users.
This milestone marks a significant development in a long-running federal class action lawsuit, whose landmark 2013 settlement initially aimed for half of the entire fleet of 13,587 taxis to be accessible by 2020. That deadline, along with a subsequent 2023 extension, had previously passed unmet. Currently, 5,140 yellow taxis out of those in service meet the accessibility standard. However, challenges remain, as approximately 3,000 more medallion cabs are in storage and not on the road. The TLC faced repeated hurdles, including the rise of app-based ride- hailing services that depreciated taxi medallion values and the pandemic, which further reduced the number of active cabs. The federal judge overseeing the case, George Daniels, initially likened the 2013 settlement to Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's colour line, calling it “one of the most significant acts of inclusion since Jackie Robinson joined the Dodgers.” However, he later expressed bewilderment and “scolded TLC” last year for repeated delays, prompting a new formula to reach the target. This included an August 2024 enforcement order requiring all new taxis entering service to be WAVs and a restructuring of the Taxi Improvement Fund to assist medallion owners with conversion costs, which can be $100,000 per vehicle. Bhairavi Desai, president of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, noted the financial burden on drivers: “That’s just for the vehicle, the retrofitting with the ramp, painting the car.”
At the time of the 2013 settlement, only 213 taxis, barely 1.5% of the total fleet, were wheelchair accessible. While significant progress has been made, the TLC now faces another deadline in 2028: making 50% of the entire fleet, including those currently off the road, wheelchair accessible.
JULY 2025 PHTM
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