Akums Drugs shares at day's low as finance chief quits citing Delhi pollution

Akums Drugs shares at day's low as finance chief quits citing Delhi pollution

Shares of Delhi-based Akums Drugs and Pharmaceuticals’ were trading at day's low on December 29 days after its finance chief, Rajkumar Bafna, has resigned from his position after citing rising pollution levels in the national capital in his resignation email.

Bafna, who was designated as Senior Management Personnel, will be relieved of his duties effective December 31, 2025, the company said in a regulatory filing on December 27.

In a resignation letter addressed to Chief Financial Officer Sumeet Sood, Bafna wrote that he was stepping down “due to Delhi Pollution” and requested to be relieved at the earliest.

“I would like to inform you that due Delhi Pollution level I'm resigning from my position as President Finance. Kindly relieve me asap. If I can be any help during this transition pls let me know,” the resignation mail read.

Responding to the letter, Sood acknowledged the resignation and said the company would formally relieve Bafna on December 31, 2025. “Though we regret your decision however given your health issue we will not be able to persuade you,” Sood wrote.

Akums is a contract development and manufacturing organisation.

At 11:40 am, Akums Drugs shares were trading 0.1% higher at Rs 446.6 apiece.

The national capital, Delhi, woke up to a chilly morning on Monday, with air quality deteriorating as the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 402 at 8 am, slipping into the "severe" category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

For comparison, the city recorded an AQI of 390 at 4 pm on December 28, placing it in the 'very poor' category. According to the CPCB, several areas across the city recorded worse air quality, with AQI levels exceeding 400.

'

Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 455, while Bawana registered 411. Several other locations across the capital also witnessed severe pollution levels. Areas such as Wazirpur (443), Rohini (442), Punjabi Bagh (426), and Patparganj (431) saw further deterioration in air quality, settling in the 'severe' category, according to CPCB data.

At least 128 flights were cancelled, eight got diverted, and nearly 200 services were delayed at the Delhi airport due to dense fog on Monday.

An official said 64 departures and 64 arrivals were cancelled, while eight flights got diverted due to dense fog and low visibility conditions at the Delhi airport.

Delhi airport operator DIAL, in a post on X, said runway visibility is improving, but some flight departures and arrivals may be impacted.

Information on the flight-tracking website Flightradar24.com showed that nearly 200 flights were delayed, with an average departure delay of around 24 minutes.

"Fog continues to persist across Delhi and several airports in northern India. Visibility remains reduced and, as a result, flight movements are presently slower than normal, with some delays being experienced," IndiGo said in a post on X.

Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) operates the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), which handles around 1,300 flight movements daily.