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EDITIONS: MUMBAI*, Pune, Nashik, Konkan, Indore, Bhopal, E-paper MEMBER: AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATION
JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2023
EDIT
KUNAL’S ‘I was surprised to
see people in their
SENSEX AND Investors lapped up
stocks amid expectations
0
34 c. 26 c.
0

MADGAON late 50s are enjoying FEAR SHOULDN’T NIFTY HIT of a robust corporate Sunrise : 06:30 am

EXPRESS the film’ GUIDE RAHUL RECORD HIGHS performance Sunset : 06:53 pm

IT’S FOR LG OR PREZ TO TAKE Tunnel traffic

A CALL ON KEJRIWAL: COURT goes for a toss
VISHAL SINGH / MUMBAI Road has a two-km-long tun- towing vehicle and imposing a nel. The operator in the Local

LET DEMOCRACY TAKE ITS COURSE An accident was reported in

GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR
NEW DELHI
The Delhi High Court refused
to entertain a public interest
litigation (PIL) petition seek-
ing directions to remove Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) leader
Arvind Kejriwal from the post
of Chief Minister of Delhi.
A division bench of Acting
Chief Justice Manmohan and
Justice Manmeet Pritam
Singh Arora said the decision
whether to continue as the
CM or not had to be Kejriwal's
personal call. It added that
therefore “let democracy take
its own course”.
The court further observed,
"At times, personal interest
has to be subordinate to na-
tional interest. But that is his
(Kejriwal's) personal opinion.
If he does not want to do that,
it's up to him. We are a court of
law. Do you have any
precedent of president's rule
or governor's rule being im-
posed by the court?" the Bench
asked.
It then told the counsel that
his remedy lies elsewhere and
that he should approach the
constitutional authorities. The
court pointed out it is up to the
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
(LG) or the President of India
to take a call on the issue.
This is a practical, not a le-
gal issue. We won't go into
this...The governor is fully
competent. He does not need
our guidance. He has the dis-
cretion to take the call. Let's
not think that they won't dis-
charge their functions. We
can't venture into this," the
bench said.
"How can we declare that
the government is not func-
tioning? The LG is fully com-
petent to decide it. He (LG)
does not need our guidance.
We are no one to advise him.
He will do whatever he has to
in accordance with law," the
court said. CONTD. ON NATION
the two-km-long tunnel which
nel between Priyadarshini
Park and Marine Drive, where
the mishap occurred.
fine of Rs 1,500, which was duly
paid. The incident was cap-
tured by CCTV cameras, mon-
Operation Maintenance Room
(LOMR) promptly examined
the CCTV footage, verified the
is part of the newly inaugu- Police have now initiated itored from the control room at incident, and alerted the ap-
rated Mumbai Coastal Road, action against the driver of Priyadarshini Park, where un- propriate authorities.
on Thursday afternoon. A car the car that collided with the usual vehicle movements were A Mumbai Police officer
collided with the corner wall wall. Reportedly, there was a noticed around 12:42pm. said that around 1pm, “a minor
near Cross Passage-05, inside young driver with a learner’s According to police, on accident occurred in the
the tunnel. Subsequently, an- licence at the wheel while his Thursday afternoon, a by- tunnel of Coastal Road CP 4
other car rear-ended the first father was the co-passenger. stander used the Emergency Southbound, in which a black
one. Fortunately, there were Tardeo Traffic Police came Call Box (ECB) to notify au- Toyota car lost balance on
no casualties in the incident. to the aid of the vehicle, re- thorities of an accident near the steering wheel and hit the
The 10.8-km-long Coastal trieving it with the help of a CP-5 in the Coastal Road tun- tunnel wall. CONTD. ON NATION
KHARGE GOES BALLISTIC: PM MODI SAYS 'I HAVE A 56-INCH CHEST, I WILL NOT BE SCARED'. IF YOU ARE NOT
AFRAID, THEN WHY HAVE YOU LEFT A LARGE PART OF OUR LAND FOR CHINA? THEY ARE COMING INSIDE AND YOU ARE
SLEEPING. HAVE YOU TAKEN SLEEPING PILLS? HAVE THEY TAKEN OPIUM FROM THE FIELDS OF RAJASTHAN... AND FED YOU?"
27 FLYERS, GOLD IN
RECTUM, SLIP AWAY
Lucky-Oye-Oye-Lucky moment at
Lucknow airport

Cong licks its wounds Rahul a victim

of an ambitious
DHARMESH THAKKAR / MUMBAI

T
wenty-seven of the 36 flyers arriving from

after sexist comment mom: Kangana

Sharjah to the Lucknow Chaudhary Charan
Singh Airport, who were detained by the Di-
rectorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for smug-
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / NEW DELHI gling gold tablets in their stomachs and rectum,
successfully gave the Lucknow Airport Customs

GAURAV VIVEK
BHATNAGAR/RAJESH MOUDGIL
NEW DELHI, CHANDIGARH
Congress national general
secretary Randeep Singh
Surjewala on Thursday
found himself in the eye of a
storm as the BJP accused
him of making a “vile sexist
comment” against its Mathu-
ra MP and well-known actor
Hema Malini at a public
meeting. The Haryana State
Commission for Women took
suo moto cognisance of the
remark and issued notice to
him.
Reacting to the charge,
Surjewala, who is an
advocate by profession and
knows the importance of
choosing his words carefully,
accused the BJP of
selectively picking on his
words.
It was the in-charge of
BJP’s national information
and technology department
Amit Malviya who flagged
the issue. Sharing a video
clip of Surjewala’s speech,
he tweeted on ‘X’: Congress
MP Randeep Surjewala
makes a vile sexist com-
ment, which is demeaning
and derogatory, not just for
Hema Malini, who is an ac-
complished individual, but
for women in general.”
Malviya cited the exact
words of Surjewala, who
said in Hindi, “MLA/MP
kyon banate hain? Taaki
who hamari awaaz utha
sakein, hamari baat man-
wain, isliye banate hongay.
Koi Hema Malini toh hain
nahin, jo chaatnay kay liye
banatay hain?” (“Why do we
elect MLAs/MPs? So that
they can speak up on our be-
half, get things done, that is
why we elect them. They are
not Hema Malini…’’)
CONTD. ON NATION
C
ongress leader Rahul
Gandhi was a victim
of an “ambitious”
mother, actor Kangana Ra-
naut said on Thursday. Both
Rahul and Priyanka were
“pressured” and “forced”
into politics by Sonia
Gandhi, said Ranaut, the
Bharatiya Janata Party’s
(BJP’s) candidate for the
Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Hi-
machal Pradesh. Rahul and
Priyanka were being “tor-
tured” by their mother to
stay in politics and they
should have been allowed to
lead their own lives, said Ra-
naut, who hails from Mandi.
“Rahul Gandhi is a victim
of an ambitious mother. As
we have seen in the film ‘3 Id-
iots’, kids themselves
become the victims of ‘pari-
varvaad.’ ” the ‘Queen’ actor
said in an interview to a me-
dia house.
CONTD. ON NATION
India accused of targeted killings in Pak
ONLINE REPORT / LONDON
The Indian government engi-
neered killings of individuals
in Pakistan as part of its bid to
eliminate terrorists living on
foreign soil, British daily The
Guardian has said in a report,
citing unnamed Indian and
Pakistani intelligence opera-
tives. The claims are
connected to almost 20 killings
since 2020, carried out by un-
known gunmen in Pakistan.
India has earlier tried to
fend off similar accusations of
carrying out targeted killings
of Khalistani elements on
Canadian and American soil.
This policy hasn’t shaped
overnight, a Pakistani official
told The Guardian. ‘‘We be-
lieve they have worked for
around two years to establish
the slip on Tuesday. During questioning, a suspect
feigned illness and collapsed, and the other sus-
pects, taking advantage of the chaos, fled the spot.
The flyers were detained for suspected ciga-
rette smuggling by the DRI and Customs on the
Sharjah-Lucknow flight early Monday morning.
The questioning of the detained passengers
from Tanda (Lucknow), where an organised gold
smuggling syndicate is in operation, led to the
discovery of gold tablets in the flyers’ stomachs
and rectums. CONTD. ON NATION
these sleeper cells in the UAE lamabad has long denied shel-
which are mostly organising tering, the report says.
the executions,” the official ex- According to the newspaper,
plained. two Indian intelligence
The FPJ has not been able to officers have disclosed that the
corroborate any of these spy agency shifted its focus on
claims from independent militant elements abroad after
sources. Analysts feel the Pulwama attack in 2019,
Pakistan has been reluctant to when a suicide bomber target-
publicly acknowledge the ed a military convoy in Kash-
killings as most of the targets mir, killing 40 paramilitary
are known terrorists that Is- personnel. CONTD. ON NATION

SC relief for
Navneet Rana
in caste row
MAIN HOON NA!
As Cong treads warily in Rae Bareli and Amethi,
SC refuses to
modify ‘clock’
symbol order
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / NEW DELHI Robert Vadra indicates he may throw hat in the ring FPJ NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on BISWAJEET BANERJEE / LUCKNOW

T
Thursday restored the caste he Supreme Court on

certificate of Amravati MP
and Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leader Navneet Kaur
Rana.
The order, which came on
the last day of filing nomina-
tion for the Amravati Lok
Sabha seat in Maharashtra,
has set aside the June 8, 2021,
verdict of the Bombay High
Court which had said Rana
had used fabricated docu-
ments to obtain the “mochi”
caste certificate, which had
been issued by the Mumbai
Deputy Collector and vali-
dated by the Mumbai Subur-
ban District Caste Certificate
Scrutiny Committee.
The judges in the June
2021 ruling had found that
majority of the documents
relied upon by the Amaravati
MP in support of her caste
claim were inadmissible.
CONTD. ON NATION
R
obert Vadra, Congress leader Priyanka Thursday refused to
Gandhi’s husband, is inclined to contest modify its order
the upcoming polls from Amethi, a po- asking the Ajit Pawar-led Na-
litical stronghold of the Gandhi family. tionalist Congress Party
"I would prefer Amethi if I were to contest. (NCP) to display bigger dis-
It would be my first step in politics," Vadra claimers in its advertise-
stated on Thursday, underscoring that Amethi ments stating that allocation
is keen to be represented by somebody from of the “clock” symbol to it is
within the family. sub judice.
Smriti Irani has been named as the BJP's The public advertisements
candidate for the seat. She had caused a major in newspapers were tucked
upset in 2019 by defeating Rahul Gandhi, the in corner, noted a bench of
former Congress president, by a margin of ap- the top court presided over
proximately 55,000 votes. command, but a formal declaration is awaited. by Justice Surya Kant and
The Congress party is yet to announce its Owing to the buzz, the clamour among party asked the Ajit Pawar group
nominee against the Union Minister this time. workers to nominate Priyanka has also inten- to issue public notices
Despite Robert Vadra's inclination, speculation sified in Rae Bareli. The party's focus appears afresh that are carried more
abounds as Rahul has already filed his nomina- to be on retaining this bastion, particularly af- prominently.
tion from Wayanad. ter setbacks in the 2019 general elections. It also asked senior advo-
Not just Amethi, an announcement on even Sonia Gandhi's occasional absence from cate Mukul Rohatgi, appear-
the Congress party's candidate for Rae Bareli Rae Bareli in the past five years has led to ing for the Ajit Pawar group,
is awaited, more so in view of the possibility conjecture about the family's commitment to to sensitise NCP workers, of-
of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra being named the the constituency. With Sonia Gandhi's fice-bearers and candidates
candidate. transition to the Rajya Sabha, the urgency to not to defy the direction of
Party insiders suggest that Priyanka’s nom- secure the seat has heightened within the the apex court.
ination has received approval from the high Congress ranks. CONTD. ON NATION CONTD. ON NATION

LAST WORD

X FACT-CHECKER FOR INDIA USERS FPJ NEWS SERVICE / NEW DELHI cording to the company. It has tain conditions after which,
contributors in 69 countries you will be a contributing

E
lon Musk has activated a
Community Notes fea-
ture on his social media
platform X in India. Essentially
a user-based fact-checking pro-
gramme, it has been activated
just as the country prepares for
general elections. Users can use
the feature to fact-check infor-
mation being circulated on the
platform before believing it to
be true. “Community Notes
aims to create a better
informed world by
empowering people on X to col-
laboratively add context to po-
tentially misleading posts,” ac-
around the world.
Contributors can leave
notes on any post and if
enough contributors from dif-
ferent points of view rate that
note as helpful, the note will be
publicly shown on a post.
“A post with a Community
Note will not be labelled, re-
moved, or addressed by X un-
less it is found to be violating
the X Rules,” said the company.
In order to sign up for the
feature, simply click on the
link provided by Community
Notes official handle. You will
then be asked to agree to cer-
member of the feature. The
three-stage process, based on
which you can sign up as a con-
tributor, are: there should be
no violations of X rules since
Jan 1, 2023; the user should
have joined X at least 6 months
ago; he should have a verified
phone number from a trusted
phone carrier and also make
sure it is not associated with
other Community Notes ac-
counts.
The Musk-owned platform
has welcomed new contribu-
tors from India for its special
feature.
 POLL SHOW
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

THEAET
GR

Modi, Mamata ‘jugalbandi’ CONG DUMPS SDPI

‘How schoolkids
attending Modi’s
roadshow is a

cooks up spicier poll script

criminal offence?’
N CHITHRA / CHENNAI
A fortnight after the Coim-
SHANKAR RAJ
Irani: Rahul ashamed of IUML support,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
hence its flags absent in roadshow
Even as the BJP sharpened
its political knife to attack on
the Congress at the national

TRUST A SNAKE, batore police lodged a case

under Section 75 of the Juve-
nile Justice (Care and Protec-
level for the support extended
by the Social Democratic Par-
ty of India (SDPI) to its Kerala

NOT BJP: DIDI

tion of Children) Act, 2015,
against a school for bringing
children to a BJP roadshow
by Prime Minister Narendra
ARITRA SINGHA / KOLKATA Modi, the Madras High Court
unit in the Lok Sabha poll, the
state leadership decided to re-
ject the support from the out-
fit known for its extremist
and anti-Hindu views.

After a brief hiatus following

her injury, West Bengal Chief
Minister Mamata Banerjee’s
poll campaign is picking up
MOMENTS BEFORE
n Earlier, speaking on CAA,
Mamta said in Coochbehar
she would not allow
implementation of CAA.
has asked how it would con-
stitute a criminal office.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi show his portrait presented to
him as West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar looks on
Hearing a plea by a middle
school headmistress to quash
at a rally in West Bengal’s Coochbehar district on Thursday —PTI the FIR on a complaint from
But the cheeky Congress
left a half door open saying it
was not accepting the support
extended by the SDPI “but in-
A day after Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Wayanad, his bitter critic
and bete noire Union Minister Smriti Irani headed a huge rally in
the hill district as she accompanied Kerala BJP chief and party candi-
dividuals can take a call on
date K Surendran ahead of filing his nomination on Thursday.

Modi rakes up
pace and a sudden killer the District Child Protection whom to cast their votes.”
storm in Jalpaiguri has kept Officer Pavithra Devi, Justice It is obvious the Congress
“Wayanad will be the second Amethi for Rahul Gandhi”, declared
n “CAA is the head and NRC Smriti as she held a bow and arrow on a flower decked vehicle. She was
her on her toes. On Thursday, G Jayachandran asked how is dealing with the SDPI with
is the tail. If you are applying cheered by a huge crowd. “Joined K Surendran in filing his nomination as
Mamata addressed two the Section 75, which deals kids’ gloves. The Congress

rallies in North Bengal and
lambasted the “concept” of
“One Nation, One Party”.
She urged the Election
Commission to ensure “level
playing ground” for all politi-
cal parties. “The BSF and
central forces are working at
the behest of the BJP. The EC
should ensure level playing
ground for everyone. You can
trust a poisonous snake but
not the BJP. They (BJP) are
asking for enrolment in Awas
Yojana again so that they can
chuck it off,” said Mamata.
for CAA then it will first make
you a foreigner. I will not let
that happen,” said Mamata,
challenging BJP candidates to
apply for CAA.
n Without naming Nisith
Pramanik, she said, “Those
who are bothering us, are
priceless for BJP. The one who
also became MoS, Home did
nothing for the state but
simply roamed around with
police cover. Since he was a
problem for us, we had
removed him from the party.”
CAA, corruption
ARITRA SINGHA / COOCHBEHAR
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Thursday addressed
a public rally at CoochBehar
in North Bengal while cam-
paigning for Nisith Pramanik
and Alipurduar’s Manoj Tig-
ga. Addressing the rally at
Ras Mela ground, Modi
slammed I.N.D.I.A and said
the Opposition was ‘mislead-
ing’ people over CAA. It was
‘Modi’s guarantee’ to grant
citizenship to people and the
voters should not have sleep-
less nights over the matter.
“The Opposition have nev-
er understood the feelings of
Rajbanshis and Matuas and
now they are misleading
them over the CAA issue. The
Left Front and the TMC can
even take an anti-democracy
stand but I am requesting the
people of West Bengal who
have faith in Maa Bharati can
trust Modi’s guarantee for cit-
izenship,” said Modi.
He said, “In the next five
years more stringent actions
would be taken against the
corrupt. While I am keen on
punishing the corrupt, the
Opposition is trying to save
the corrupt. The develop-
ment you see in 10 years is
just a trailer.”
Reminding people of the
Sandeshkhali land grab and
sexual harassment, Modi
said the guilty will be pun-
ished. “Remember how much
cash was unearthed from
TMC leaders’ houses? A
strong political party is need-
ed at the Centre. People say
Modi is capable of taking
mega decisions. I can do it as
I have a strong will to fulfil
the dreams of Indians and by
crushing corruption.”
with assaulting, abandoning,
abusing, exposing or wilfully
neglecting children likely to
cause mental or physical suf-
fering, would be attracted.
When it was submitted the
school exposed 32 kids in uni-
form to unnecessary mental
and physical suffering by tak-
ing them to the roadshow as
their parents had not picked
them up, the court posed if
the case could be filed solely
at the instance of the District
Child Protection Officer,
when parents had not lodged
any complaint. The officer
learnt only through media.
The assistant returning of-
ficer noted bringing kids for a
roadshow was a code viola-
tion. The judge countered the
kids were not campaigning,
but only watched a roadshow.
“When we were children,
all of us used to go to see
celebrities and politicians
during their election cam-
paigns,” the judge said.
seems to be saying it does not
want the vote from SDPI, but
its supporters can take a call.
The UDF is aware SDPI sup-
port will be crucial in Malap-
puram, Ponnani, Kannur and
Palakkad. In the three con-
stituencies, the SDPI has a
strong vote base ranging be-
tween 8,000 and 18,000.
Speaking to the media in
Thiruvananthapuram on
Thursday, Opposition leader
VD Satheesan and party pres-
ident in-charge MM Hassan
said they would reject
support from both majority
and minority communalism
in the same manner.
“The Congress will oppose
both majority and minority
communalism. We view the
support extended by SDPI in
the same way. An individual
can cast his/her vote as per
own wish. But we don’t see
the communal outfits extend-
ing their support to us in the
same way. It looks as if the
a BJP candidate for Wayanad Constituency. Humbled by the welcoming
sea of citizens at the roadshow, who are spiritedly awaiting a new dawn
in the state’s growth story. Wayanad is abuzz with enthusiasm to play its
part in achieving #AbkiBaar400Paar. Together, we will chart a path tow-
ards Viksit Bharat under the dynamic leadership of Modiji,” said Smriti.
The BJP has fielded Surendran against Rahul Gandhi and CPI’s
Annie Raja. While Rahul is contesting from here for the second time
after bagging it for the first time in 2019, Surendran is contesting
from the seat for the first time. —Shankar Raj
CPI-M says we have accepted issue more aggressively in
their support,” said the coming days and Prime
Satheesan. Minister Modi would surely
Hassan went a step further ‘weaponise’ the issue to
and cast aspersions against attack both Rahul and the
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi- Congress.
jayan comparing him with The SDPI is the political
Joseph Goebbbels, a Nazi front of the banned Popular
politician and chief propa- Front of India (PFI). Earlier,
gandist of the Nazi Party. it tacitly supported the Left
Even as the Congress re- parties. The rapport between
jected the SDPI support, the SDPI and CPI-M snapped in
outfit reiterated it would vote 2018 when SFI leader M
for the UDF. Despite the Abimanyu, a second-year de-
denial from the Congress, the gree student of Maharaja’s
support extended by the SDPI College, Ernakulam, was al-
has become a millstone legedly stabbed to death by
around the neck of the GOP. activists of its student body,
The BJP is likely to raise the Campus Front of India.

PM mum on parivar politics
Tejashwi names netas with political lineage
DHEERAJ KUMAR / PATNA
Contrary to expectations, Pri-
me Minister Narendra Modi
maintained a silence over dy-
nastic politics during his first
election meeting at Jamui in
Bihar on Thursday. RJD chief
Lalu Prasad had created a
storm after he said the PM
was attacking dynastic poli-
tics since he had no family.
BJP retorted to Lalu’s remark
by launching a ‘Modi Ka Pari-
var’ social media campaign.
Ahead of PM’s visit to Bi-
har, former deputy CM and
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav
posted names of 14 NDA can-
didates on X, calling them
products of dynastic politics
QUICK READ
or promoting nepotism.
Tejashwi wrote, “There are
pure 100 per cent dynastic
candidates on all four seats
(going to polls in the first
phase). Of these, two are from
so-called regional dynastic
parties and two are from the
country’s largest BJP filled
with dynastic leaders.”
THE PARIVAR
Arun Bharti, the son of ex-
MLC Jyoti Paswan and son-
in-law of former union minis-
ter late Ram Vilas Paswan
and brother-in-law of LJP
chief Chirag Paswan from Ja-
mui, Sushil Kumar Singh,
son of former MP Ram
Naresh Singh from Au-
rangabad, former CM Jitan
Ram Manjhi, father of HAM
chief and minister Santosh
Suman and BJP candidate
Vivek Thakur, son of former
union minister Dr CP Thakur
— are dynastic leaders.
He listed out 10 NDA candi-
dates, calling them products
of dynastic politics, including
BJP candidate from Patna
Sahib and ex-union minister
Ravi Shankar Prasad, son of
ex-minister and MLA Thakur
Prasad and LJP (R) chief and
Hajipur nominee Chirag
Paswan, son of late Ram Vil-
as Paswan. He named LJP (R)
candidate Shamvhabhi Cho-
udhary, daughter of JD (U)
minister Ashok Choudhary.
QUOTE
‘AZAD’ SINGH BLASTS GOVT
HANGER
TThereoday it is either ‘brand
Modi’ or ‘brand virodhi’.
are different rivals
(virodhi) in different states.
But ‘brand Modi’ is present
everywhere.
—Ajay Alok, BJP leader
IBJP’sftermyouvictory
help him get a third
as PM by ensuring the
in all the five
seats (in Uttarakhand), he will
make India the third biggest
economy.
A day after being released from Tihar jail, AAP MP Sanjay
—JP Nadda, BJP leader
Singh on Thursday offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in
Delhi’s Connaught Place, saying he prayed for good sense to
prevail over the BJP-led central government. He also paid hom- N o matter the client, the
government or the case,
Mr Fali S Nariman sought to
age to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The way CMs of Delhi and
advance a vision of the law
Jharkhand were sent to jail, is the beginning of “dictatorship” grounded in liberty, equality
in the country, he said at Rajghat. — PTI and justice, the foundational
values of our Constitution and
ultimately, our society. No
Plea in SC favours
ballot paper voting
OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI
Delhi-based advocate
Mehmood Pracha has moved
the Supreme Court seeking
directions to conduct all elec-
tions in the country using
ballot papers instead of elec-
tronic voting machines.
Pracha, who is contesting
the forthcoming LS poll from
Rampur in UP as an inde-
pendent candidate, has ar-
gued the Representation of
the People Act of 1951 and the
Conduct of Election Rules of
1961 mandate elections be
held using ballot paper alone.
“Elections by the use of
Ballot Papers and Ballot Box-
es is the rule ... Hence, all elec-
tions have to be held by the
Elections by the use of Ballot
Papers and Ballot Boxes is the
rule ... Hence, all elections
have to be held by the use of
Paper Ballots and resort to
voting machines may be
considered by the Election
Commission only on a case to
case basis under exceptional
circumstances and that too
for justifiable reasons, which
have to be delineated in a
specific order.
—Mehmood Pracha
Delhi-based advocate
has underscored that paper
ballots cannot be replaced by
EVMs as per the RP Act.
“A ridiculous and some-

Pappu files nomination as Independent

Gourav Vallabh Serial losers: Independents matter the occasion or the
opponent, he conducted
use of Paper Ballots and re-
sort to voting machines may
times dangerous situation or
interpretation emerges if one
quits Congress, himself with grace and poise.
who refuse to call it quits
be considered by the Election were to read ‘EVM’ in place
PATNA: Former MP Rajesh Ranjan aka Pappu Yadav on Thursday filed —DY Chandrachud Commission only on a case to of ‘Ballot Paper’ and ‘Ballot
his nomination from Purnea seat as an Independent candidate for Lok
Sabha election even as the Congress
joins BJP PTI / New Delhi owner, 65, takes pride in his
Chief Justice of India case basis under exceptional
circumstances and that too
Box’ ... the provisions for
counterfoils are another
registered its strong protest, saying he did it
without the party leadership’s permission.
Pappu filed the nomination on the last day
OUR BUREAU / NEW DELHI

In jolt to the Congress, its ide-

of nomination for the second phase
scheduled to be held on April 26. State
Congress president Akhilesh Prasad Singh
said no party leader was permitted to file
nomination from a seat, which had not been
allotted to the party. “The party high
command had decided seats to be contested
under the seat-sharing deal. Former MP
Nikhil Kumar was also a claimant to
Aurangabad seat but when the seat was not
allotted to the Congress, he did not file the
nomination,” he added. On the other hand,
ologue and senior
spokesman Prof Gourav Val-
labh on Thursday joined the
BJP at its headquarters here
in the presence of its
national general secretary.
Also joining the BJP on
Thursday were two Bihar
leaders — former Bihar Con-
gress chief Anil Sharma and
RJD leader Upendra Prasad.
Gourav talked of his long-
In election season when can-
didates desperately push for a
win, they wear their defeat as
a badge of honour. A bunch
of tenacious Independents
have developed stakes in los-
ing polls and do it
all to ensure it hap-
pens — from ap-
pealing to people to
not vote for them to
flaunting the un-
successful tag.
Like Tamil
entry in the Guinness Book
of World Records for candi-
date with most contested
Iwealth
can neither raise anti-
Sanatan slogans nor abuse
creators day in and
for justifiable reasons, which
have to be delineated in a spe-
cific order,” the plea said.
mode of securing the sanctity
of voting and of the electoral
process, which is not possible
pollss. He claims to have lost day out. Therefore, I resign The plea has been filed as and not applicable in the case
Rs80 lakh in security deposits from all posts and primary an interlocutory application of EVMs,” the plea argued.
which gets forfeited every membership of the party. in a pending case before the Pracha enrolled with the
time he loses a poll besides ex- —Gourav Vallabh Supreme Court. In that mat- Bar Council of Delhi and be-
penses for filing Congress leader ter, the top court had sought gan practicing as an advocate
nomination amid the response of the Election in 1988 after graduating from
fanfare.
Gearing up for
his 239th attempt,
Sreligion.
ecularism doesn’t mean
disregarding one’s own
Commission on a PIL seeking
a thorough count of Voter-
Verifiable Paper Audit Trail
the Campus Law Centre, Fac-
ulty of Law, DU. His plea be-
fore the top court was drawn
Padmarajan has —Sanjay Nirupam, (VVPAT) slips in elections. by advocates RHA Sikander
filed his Expelled Congress leader Pracha in his application and Jatin Bhatt.
nomination for the

Bhagwat to visit Gujarat

state Congress spokesperson Rajesh Rathore held belief in the construc- Nadu’s K Padmara- 18th LS poll from
said all Congress workers would strive hard for the victory of the INDIA tion of Ram Mandir in Ayod- jan, who calls him- Thrissur, Kerala,
bloc’s common candidate Bima Bharti. Bharti, a JD(U) turncoat, filed hya, expressing his disap- self the “Election King” and and Dharmapuri, Tamil
her nomination from Purnea seat as an RJD nominee on Wednesday. pointment the Congress did might be the only candidate Nadu. “I began fighting elec-
After filing his nomination, Pappu while indirectly targeting RJD chief
Lalu Prasad claimed there was a conspiracy to destroy his political
career. “I definitely got perturbed over what happened to me for a seat
but I have not lost my courage. My commitment is towards Congress
not accept the invitation on
its launch by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, affecting
him deeply. He decried the
in the fray who urges people
to not choose him just so he
can retain his tag of being the
“most unsuccessful candi-
tions in 1988 from my home-
town of Mettur in TN. I have
contested 238 polls so far in-
cluding against former PMs
amid rising tension in BJP
FPJ NEWS SERVICE Garudeshwar for darshan in BJP grappling with internal
leader Rahul Gandhi,” he remarked. —Dheeraj Kumar trend of criticising wealth date”, a feat also registered in AB Vajpayee, Narsimha Rao AHMEDABAD the morning. Subsequently, dissent and the looming
creators and government the Limca Book of Records. and Manmohan Singh. This he will convene another meet- specter of electoral battles,
181 critical booths in 21 Tamil Nadu seats policies. The tyre repair shop will be my 239th attempt.” Political tensions within the ing with intellectuals in Vado- Bhagwat’s visit holds the po-
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu, which goes to polls in the first phase on Gujarat BJP have reached a dara during the afternoon tential to offer strategic in-
April 19, has as many as 181 critical polling stations in 21 of its 39 SUNSET YEARS crescendo with the impend- session from 3.30 pm to 6pm. sights and guidance to navi-

31k centenarians set

parliamentary constituencies, according to the Election Commission. ing visit of Rashtriya Later, he will proceed to Kar- gate through the turbulent
Also, 8,050 polling booths across the state have been identified as Swayam Sevak Sangh (RSS) navati for an overnight stay, political waters.
“vulnerable”. A polling booth is identified as “critical” based on chief Mohan Bhagwat. departing from Karnavati on Moreover, Bhagwat’s inter-
parameters including whether the polling in that station was over Against the backdrop of esca- the morning of April 8. actions with intellectuals and

to cast ballots in UP
90 per cent and if 75% of them favoured one candidate in the last lating factionalism, particu- The timing of Bhagwat’s community leaders are antic-
election, whether it recorded less than 10 per cent polling or larly in constituencies like visit assumes significance ipated to provide a forum for
whether any violence leading to registering of FIR was recorded in Vadodara and Bharuch, against the backdrop of esca- dialogue and reconciliation,
the last five years, etc. “If a polling station is identified as critical, Bhagwat’s visit assumes sig- lating tensions within the Gu- fostering unity and cohesion
the EC would ensure enhanced security measures such as BISWAJEET BANERJEE (SC) candidates. As part of their assess- nificance, with speculations jarat BJP, particularly con- within the party. The RSS
deployment of sufficient central armed police force personnel or LUCKNOW The EC further disclosed ment, leaders from seven po- rife about its potential impact cerning the ongoing faction- chief ’s visit comes at a criti-
provide additional civil measures such as webcasting, among that a staggering 15.29 crore litical parties engaged in dis- on the political bickering. alism in constituencies like cal juncture, offering an oppo-
others,” the EC said. —N Chithra As many as 31,774 individu- individuals have been en- cussions with the poll panel Vijay Thaker, RSS Gujarat Vadodara and Bharuch. The rtunity for introspection and
als aged over 100 are eligible rolled as voters in Uttar members, addressing vari- Prant Prachar Pramukh, an- recent protests by the Ksha- course correction amid the
SP replaces Meerut nominee second time to exercise their franchise in Pradesh, with women con- ous concerns and issues. nounced the details of Bhag- triya community against prevailing political turmoil.
LUCKNOW: The SP on Thursday changed its candidate from Meerut the forthcoming election in stituting 7.15 crore of the Reflecting on the integrity wat’s three-day visit to Gu- Union minister Parshottam As the countdown to Bhag-
seat for a second time, replacing Atul Pradhan with former mayor Uttar Pradesh, according to electorate. Additionally, of the electoral process, Rin- jarat, scheduled from April 6 Rupala have heightened polit- wat’s visit begins, all eyes are
Sunita Verma. April 4 was the last date for filing nomination in Meerut, the Election Commission 20.41 lakh citizens have wa asserted, “No complaints to 8th April. Bhagwat is slated ical tensions, adding to the on Gujarat, with stakeholders
which will go to polls on April 26. The BJP has fielded actor Arun (EC) in Lucknow. been registered as first-time against any officer have to arrive in Vadodara on Sat- complexity of the situation. awaiting the outcome of the
Govil, who played the role of Lord Ram in TV serial ‘Ramayan’, from Of the total 80 seats in the voters. been lodged so far. We have urday, 6th April, where he will The visit is expected to forthcoming discussions. The
the seat. Pradhan, who filed his nomination on Wednesday, said he state, the EC said 63 have In a bid to ensure fair and instructed all officials to engage in an interaction ses- serve as a platform for Bhag- visit is poised to shape the tra-
accepts the decision of party national president Akhilesh Yadav, who been designated for general transparent elections, Chief conduct free and fair elec- sion with intellectuals in wat to engage with key stake- jectory of political landscape
he met in the morning. On X, Pradhan, who is SP MLA from Sardhana candidates, while the re- Election Officer Navdeep tions and uphold a level Bharuch from 3.30 pn to 6pm. holders and address the sim- in the days to come, heralding
seat, said, “Whatever decision national president Akhilesh Yadavji has maining 17 seats are re- Rinwa conducted a compre- playing field for all partici- On April 7, Bhagwat will mering discontent within the a potential turning point in
taken, I accept it. Soon I will sit with supporters and discuss.” —PTI served for Scheduled Caste hensive review. pating parties.” visit the Dutt Mandir at party ranks. With the Gujarat the political saga in the BJP.
MUMBAI MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
2nd phase: 352 candidates file nominations for 8 LS seats
Mumbai: As many as 352 candidates, including those
from major parties like the BJP and the Congress, have
filed their nominations for the eight Lok Sabha
constituencies in Maharashtra that will vote in the second
phase on April 26, said an official in the state electoral
office on Thursday. These contestants have submitted a
total of 477 nominations (meaning some of them have
filed more than one set of papers), he said.

‘MVA AN ALLIANCE OF 3 SICK UNITS’ NCP (SP) comes

Ambedkar files
nomination
from Akola
AMRAVATI:
Bahujan Aghadi
Vanchit

Prakash Ambedkar filed

chief
nomination for the Akola
Lok Sabha seats on Thursday.
Speaking to reporters,
Ambedkar said Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi attacks
other parties over dynastic
politics but the BJP's Akola
candidate Anup Dhotre is son
of sitting MP Sanjay Dhotre.
Sena (Shinde)
drops 2 sitting
MPs in new list
There are five power centres in the Cong – Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi,
Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal; all are at loggerheads with each other, Nirupam says
KALPESH MHAMUNKAR / MUMBAI
A sense of deja vu prevailed
at Sanjay Nirupam's presser
on Thursday. When he quit
the united Shiv Sena, which
sent him to the Rajya Sabha
twice, he slammed the party
and its politics. He then
joined the Congress which
made him a Lok Sabha MP
from Mumbai North-West
seat. On Thursday, he
targeted the party and lev-
elled several allegations
against it. He called the Maha
out with 2nd list
Party has not yet declared candidates for
gress earlier, but now there
Nirupam's charges are five – Sonia Gandhi, Raver, Satara and Madha seats
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka
Congress is scattered structurally
1 and is directionless ideologically
I have finally
decided to fulfil
Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge
and KC Venugopal. All these Beed Bhiwandi
your much-awaited power centers are at logger-
Congress leadership has lost touch
2 with ground reality and has no
desire. Looks like,
immediately after
heads with each other,” he ob-
served. He said the leadership
future the party received has lost touch with ground re-
my resignation ality and has no future. He
At this rate, the Congress will be
3 letter last night, added that the party is still ob-
buried slowly in the city
they decided to
issue my
sessed with Nehruvian secu-
larism, which denied reli-
4 The party is still obsessed
with Nehruvian secularism expulsion. Good to
see the such
gion.
Nirupam also targeted the
Uddhav Thackeray dictates promptness. Shiv Sena (UBT). He said Ud-

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on

Thursday fielded Rajashree
Patil, wife of Hingoli MP He-
mant Patil, from Yavatmal-
Washim Lok Sabha con-
stituency in place of the par-
ty's sitting MP Bhavana
Gawli.
In Hingoli, the party led by
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde replaced sitting MP
Patil with Baburao Kadam-
Kohlikar.
Vikas Aghadi (MVA) as an al-
liance of three sick units. He
alleged that he was expelled
for 'anti-party activities' after
he submitted his resignation
from the party.
On Thursday morning,
Nirupam in a post on X said,
“Looks like, immediately af-
ter the party received my res-
ignation letter last night, they
decided to issue my expul-
sion. Good to see such
5 terms to the Congress
promptness.”
He hinted that he will be
contesting the upcoming Lok
Sabha polls, but refused to
discuss his future plans. How-
ever, he showered praise on
PM Narendra Modi for good
measures. He is known to be
in touch with Ashok Chavan
who recently defected to the
BJP from the Congress. There
are strong indications that he
may join the Shiv Sena led by
Chief Minister Eknath
Shinde provided the party
fields him from Mumbai
North-West, where he will be
pitted against Amol Kirtikar
of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
Shinde is facing a piquant sit-
— Sanjay Nirupam
uation as far as this seat is
considered. This is because
Amol's father Gajanan Kir-
tikar is a member of the CM's
party and is unwilling to con-
test the election.
“The Congress is scattered
structurally and is direction-
less ideologically, There used
to be one power center in Con-
dhav Thackeray dubbed the
BJP as Brashtachari Janata
Party and at the same time he
gave ticket to Amol Kirtikar
who was an accused in the
Covid khichdi scam.
Nirupam further said, “In
Maharashtra, Uddhav Thack-
eray dictated terms to the
Congress and this made me
angry. At this rate, the Con-
gress will be buried slowly in
the city."
Bajrang Sonawane
KALPESH MHAMUNKAR /
MUMBAI
The Nationalist Congress
Party (Sharadchandra
Pawar) declared its second
list of candidates on Thurs-
day. The party named Suresh
Mhatre as its candidate from
Bhiwandi Lok Sabha con-
Suresh Mhatre
A prominent leader from
Beed associated with the Ajit
Pawar-led NCP, Sonawane re-
cently switched allegiance to
the NCP (SP).
He was the NCP district
president and deputy chair-
man of Beed Zila parishad.
After the vertical split in the
NCP, he went with the Ajit

Bribery case: Six, BJP MLA’s wife joins NCP (AP),

The party had declared stituency, which was claimed Pawar faction, and later
Patil's candidature in its first by ally Congress in seat-shar- switched his loyalty to
list, but dropped him follow- ing talks. The party also Senior Pawar.

including asst drugs to contest from Osmanabad

ing opposition from the local fielded Bajrang Sonawane NCP (SP)'s Bhiwandi can-
unit of its ally BJP. Kohlikar from Beed. didate Suresh Mhatre alias
is the Hingoli district unit However, the party has not Balya Mama will have a
president of the Shiv Sena. yet declared candidates for straight fight with Kapil

After Gawli was replaced,
Shinde said he has not aban-
doned her and will stand by
her like a brother.
He said both Gawli and
Patil had done good work in
their constituencies.
Shinde claimed Kohlikar
and Rajashree Patil will win
with handsome margins.
The party has so far
dropped three sitting MPs,
including Krupal Tumane
from Ramtek (SC) seat. It is
also likely to drop Mumbai
North-West MP Gajanan
Kirtikar as the rival Uddhav
Thackeray-led Shiv Sena
(UBT) has fielded Kirtikar's
son Amol Kirtikar from the
controller, booked
KALPESH MHAMUNKAR / MUMBAI Jankar, the NCP was Supreme Court case Raver, Satara and Madha Patil of BJP. There was a dis-
keen on Dharashiv. Sunil Tatkare said, seats. The NCP (SP) will con- pute among the Congress
Tuljapur BJP MLA Rana Now, the seat has been “According to the test 10 Lok Sabha seats and and NCP (SP) over the seat of
Jagjitsinh Patil's wife given to NCP, but the Supreme Court deci- has declared its seven candi- Bhiwandi. The NCP (SP)
SOMENDRA SHARMA / MUMBAI works,” said a CBI official. Archana Patil on Thursday candidate is original- sion, NCP will remain dates. leadership was searching for
He added, “The source fur- joined the Nationalist Con- ly from BJP. Archana under the leadership Sonawane and Jyoti Mete a strong contender for Patil.
The Central Bureau of Inves- ther revealed that proceeds of gress Party (NCP) led by Ma- Patil has been pitted of Ajitdada Pawar were two names in the talks Mhatre was defeated by Patil
tigation (CBI) booked six per- the crime are distributed harashtra Deputy Chief Min- against Omraje Nim- and a prominent ad- for the Beed constituency but in 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
sons, including an assistant amongst all indulged public ister Ajit Pawar and will be balkar of Shiv Sena vertisement had been the party has finally picked After the declaration of his
drugs controller (ASD), for al- servants, including in-charge contested from Osmanabad (UBT). given in newspapers and TV up Sonawane. He is now pit- name, Mhatre expressed
legedly taking bribes for ASD. The source further dis- Lok Sabha seat. The Dharashiv constituen- channels before using the ted against BJP's Pankaja gratitude to Sharad Pawar
granting no-objection certifi- closed that Konde and Patade “The Mahayuti will get un- cy was claimed by the Shiv clock symbol. Munde. for allotting ticket to him.
cate (NOC) to manufacturers, collect bribe amounts on be- precedented success in the Sena, NCP and BJP. In the last He added that the Supreme
exporters and importers of half of Hiwale and Nath, and upcoming Lok Sabha elec- fifteen days, so many names Court has criticised the
pharmaceutical
drugs.
Those booked by
used to hand over
the money outside
Bribes were of the ASD office.”
tions in Maharashtra. We be-
lieve that Archana Patil will
win by a huge margin,”
have emerged as probable
candidates. Even former IAS
officer Pravin Pardeshi was
tweets which are being circu-
lated by some leaders of the
NCP (SP). The apex court said
Expedite decisions
taken for
on martyr’s wife’s
the CBI are ASD In order to verify Tatkare while welcoming her also keen to contest from Dha- that they are the only so-
Arvind Hiwale, the allegations, a into the party said. rashiv, but he refused to fight called Shahu-Phule-Ambed-
drug inspector De- granting NOC to team of CBI offi- After giving Parbhani seat election on the NCP symbol. kar supporters and are con-
Nath, manufacturers, cers along with

seat.
There is also uncertainty
over the candidature of Shiv
Sena's Nashik MP Hemant
Godse as its allies BJP and
NCP have staked claim to the
north Maharashtra seat.
Rajashree Patil and Koh-
likar submitted their nomi-
nation papers on Thursday
in Shinde's presence before
respective returning offi-
cers.
CBI brings back
man from Riyadh
in 4-yr-old gold
smuggling case
SOMENDRA SHARMA / MUMBAI
The Global Operations Cen-
tre of the Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) has man-
aged to bring back an
plea: HC to govt
vendra to RSP leader Mahadev While speaking on the stantly misleading the people.
Nageshwar Sab- subordinate staff,
bani, Sarvesh exporters and officers from Direc-
Gaikwad and pri-
vate persons
importers of torate General of
Vigilance (CBIC),
REVOLUTIONARY ACHIEVEMENT Last month, the HC has
Dyaneshwar Kone
pharmaceutical West Zonal Unit,
URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI
asked the government to take
and Datta Patade. drugs Mumbai conducted Observing that it was “not ac- a decision on whether it could
Hiwale, Nath and a joint surprise ceptable”, the Bombay High consider this as a "special
Sabbani have been arrested check (JSC) at the Panvel of- Court pulled up the Maha- case" to extend benefits to the
and remanded in police cus- fice of the ASD on April 2, rashtra government for drag- family of a martyr.
tody till April 8. 2024. ging its feet on deciding to ex- The court was informed on
According to the CBI, in- During the raid, cash of tend ex-servicemen's benefits Thursday that a decision on
formation from a reliable Rs1.52 lakh was recovered to a martyr’s widow even as it the issue could be taken only
source revealed that some from the public servants and has “wherewithal to take after four weeks as the model
public servants posted at the private persons,” the official lightning speed decisions on code of conduct has been noti-
office of the Assistant Drugs said.
Controller (India) of Central Searches were also con-
certain issues”. fied and also due to certain ad-
The high court emphasised ministrative reasons. The
Drugs Standard Control Or- ducted at the residential
ganisation (CDSCO) at premises of all persons
that the notification of Code bench said the Maharashtra
of Conduct for the ensuing government should show a
Panvel have indulged in cor- named in the FIR and seized
rupt practices by taking cash of Rs46.70 lakh and
Parliamentary elections larger heart and take appro-
ought not to come in the gov- priate decisions, especially
Rs100-5,000 for granting NOC. gold/silver jewellery worth
“Such undue advantages Rs27.80 lakh.
ernment’s way of deciding considering the current times.
granting such benefits. "Take a decision on this
are being obtained through A case has been registered The HC was (Sood's plea) and it
President Droupadi Murmu with Governor Ramesh Bais, IIT-B director Subhasis Chaudhuri and others
the customs house agent under the relevant sections hearing a petition will bring laurels to
(CHA) who used to visit the of the Indian Penal Code and during the launch of the first indigenous CAR-T cell therapy, in Mumbai filed by Aakriti Not acceptable, the Chief Minis-
office of ASD on behalf of Prevention of Corruption Sood seeking direc- HC fumes over ter… that a decision
their clients for their routine Act.
Murmu launches first homegrown tion to the state
government
is taken for those
to govt's delay in who have sacrificed

CAR T-cell therapy to fight cancer

accused from Saudi Arabia to
India in a 2020 gold
smuggling case.
The accused, Shokat Ali,
was wanted by the National
Investigation Agency (NIA)
and a red corner notice had
been issued against him. Af-
ter geo-locating Ali in Saudi
Arabia, the National Central
Bureau, Riyadh, returned
him to India through follow-
ups with the INTERPOL.
The case dates back to July
3, 2020, when the customs of-
ficials had seized 18.5kg of
smuggled gold bars at Jaipur
International Airport and
had arrested 10 persons. All
the passengers had arrived
from Riyadh. The gold, in the
form of bars and biscuits,
was concealed in the
batteries of emergency lights
and kept in checked-in bag-
gage (cartons). During the in-
vestigation, it was found that
Ali had conspired with his as-
sociates in this smuggling
syndicate.
The NIA had re-registered
the case under the relevant
sections of Indian Penal
Code and the Unlawful Activ-
2019 GADCHIROLI NAXAL ATTACK
Bail denied to bizman FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI
who facilitated the act
President Droupadi Murmu
launched India's first home-
grown gene therapy for can-
cer at the Indian Institute of
Mere delay in trial in grave offences not Technology-Bombay (IIT-B)
which is a revolutionary
ground for granting bail, says the court achievement in the battle
against the disease, here on
Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion,
the President said that the
launch of India's first gene
therapy is a breakthrough in
the battle against cancer.
“CAR-T cell therapy is con-
sidered to be one of the most
phenomenal advances in
medical science. It has been
available in the developed na-
tions for some time, but it is
extremely costly, and beyond
URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI facilitated the commission of the reach of most patients
a terrorist act,” a bench of around the world. What is
Refusing to grant bail to a Justices Revati Mohite-Dere new about the therapy being
businessman who is an ac- and Manjusha Deshpande launched today, as I under-
cused in the Gadchiroli Naxal said. The order was passed on stand it, is that it costs 90%
attack of 2019, the Bombay March 5, however, the less than what is available
High Court has observed that detailed order copy was made
prima facie there is enough available on Wednesday.
elsewhere,” said President
Murmu.
The Maharashtra Gover-
nor Ramesh Bais was the
guest of honour. IIT Bombay
director Prof Subhasis
Chaudhuri, director of Tata
Memorial Centre Prof
Sudeep Gupta were also pres-
ent. The key contributors
were led by Prof Rahul Pur-
war, Department of Bio-
science and Bioengineering,
IIT Bombay, Dr Hasmukh
Jain and Dr (Surg Cdr) Gau-
rav Narula from the Tata Me-
morial Centre, Mumbai.
Moreover, a few cancer sur-
vivors who were successfully
treated with the CAR-T cell
therapy were also present.
In his address, Prof
Chaudhuri presented an
overview of the institute’s re-
search work and ecosystem
and its growth over the years,
with a focus on the contribu-
tions by Prof. Purwar, who
developed this therapy along
with his team at IIT Bombay,
at the startup ImmunoACT
which he co-founded with his
students and with doctors at
Tata Memorial Centre, Mum-
bai.
Director of Tata Memorial
Centre Dr Sudeep Gupta
said, “The collaboration be-
tween IIT-B and Tata Memo-
rial Centre to develop the
first indigenous CAR T Cell
Therapy product has been ex-
tremely fruitful and satisfy-
ing. This product will save
many lives at much lower
cost”.
Governor Bais also con-
gratulated the team. He said,
“In any advanced country, ac-
ademia-industry collabora-
tion is the key cornerstone.
Academia leads in R&D, espe-
cially in basic sciences.
These R&D provide potential
breakthrough applications
which need to be translated
for commercialization by the
industry.”
grant ex-service- taking decision their lives for the
men benefits. country," the HC
to extend
Anuj Sood, 30,
sacrificed his life
on May 2, 2020,
benefits to
said.
The court added
that any positive ap-
martyr's widow proach from the
while extracting
civilian hostages from terror- state government on such is-
ist hideouts in Handwara, sues was certainly what
Jammu and Kashmir. In would be expected.
recognition of his extraordi- "We observe that in taking
nary bravery, he was awarded such a decision, the code of
the “Shaurya Chakra” by the conduct would certainly not
President of India posthu- come in the way as the deci-
mously. The HC has kept the sion would be taken by a prior
matter for hearing on April 10 order of this court. We do not
noting that it expects the gov- find ourselves in complete
ernment to take a positive de- agreement with these admin-
cision by then. istrative difficulties," the
“This is not acceptable. The bench noted in its order.
state government has the On a lighter note, the judges
wherewithal to take decisions said: “We are from Maharash-
on big issues in lightning tra and our prefix itself is
speed. This is a small issue es- 'Maha' and hence we should
pecially for the chief minis- have a large heart."
ter.” Aakriti Sood in her plea
The state has contended had challenged the communi-
that only those who have been cation received from the gov-
born in Maharashtra or who ernment on August 26, 2020,
have had a continuous stay of denying benefits claiming
15 years in the state are that Sood was not born in Ma-
eligible for this relief and al- harashtra or residing in the
lowance. state for the last 15 years.

Only 6% graduates actively looking for jobs: IIT-B

ities Prevention Act on Sep-
tember 22, 2020, and a charge
sheet was filed against 18 al-
leged smugglers, including
Ali, in March 2021.
According to the CBI, a red
corner notice was issued
against Ali from the INTER-
POL General Secretariat on
September 13, 2021.
Further probe led to the re-
covery of incriminating ma-
terial, including chats, audio
messages, and images from
the digital devices of the ac-
cused persons, including
some of them working in
Riyadh. It was revealed that
they had conspired and
formed an international
gang, and gold bars were be-
ing smuggled by the
members of the gang to
Jaipur from Saudi Arabia for
further delivery to dealers.
evidence to show that he
“knowingly facilitated the
commission of a terrorist
act” in which 15 police per-
sonnel lost their lives.
The court also noted that
mere delay in the trial per-
taining to grave offences by it-
self cannot be a ground to en-
large an accused on bail, de-
hors the facts.
The court has dismissed
the bail plea by Kailash Ram-
chandani, 38, a businessman
from Kurkheda in Gadchi-
roli.
“The statements on record
show that the appellant (Ram-
chandani) was in touch with
the naxals; that he would visit
the jungle and had informed
the co-accused of the passing
of the police vehicle on the
fateful day. Thus, we find that
the appellant had knowingly
The incident involved
burning of 27 vehicles of an
infrastructure company and
detonation of a pressure
bomb in Gadchiroli in May
2019 killing 15 police person-
nel and one civilian, on May
1, 2019.
Ramchandani was
arrested in 2019. He had
sought bail not only on merits
but even on parity and delay
in the commencement of the
trial. Relying on statements
of several witnesses, the HC
noted that the evidence prima
facie points to Ramchan-
dani’s complicity in the al-
leged crime.
Ramchandani is accused
of passing on information
about vehicular movements
of the Quick Response Team
(QRT) personnel on the day
of the incident.
FPJ NEWS SERVICE/MUMBAI
Following a report that 36%
of students haven’t been
placed at the Indian Institute
of Technology-Bombay (IIT-
B) this year, the institute
shared a past survey showing
that the graduates not placed
on campus pursue a variety
of career paths including
higher education, public serv-
ice and start-ups, with only
6% actively looking for jobs.
According to some media
reports, 712 of around 2,000
students who registered for
the placements in the aca-
demic year 2023-24 didn't se-
cure a job. The proportion of
students without placements
rose to 35.8% in 2023-2024
from 32.8% in 2022-23 based
on the data shared by the in-
stitute’s alumnus and
founder of Global IIT Alumni
Support Group, Dheeraj
Singh.
However, IITB countered
this scenario on ‘X’ by
sharing the findings of a sur-
vey conducted among gradu-
ating students of 2022-23. The
survey found that while only
57.1% students were placed,
12.2% opted for higher educa-
tion, 10.3% got jobs outside
the institute and 8.3% were
looking to work in public
service. While 6.1% said that
they were still looking for
jobs, 4.3% said that they had-
timents around placements,
A survey says that 12.2% opted for higher FPJ had earlier reported that
education, 10.3% got jobs outside institute, IIT-B is expecting a dip in the
number of companies and job
8.3% looking for work in public service offers, especially from the In-
formation Technology (IT)
sector, owing to slow down in
the global economy and lay-
offs in tech companies during
the last couple of years.
According to figures pro-
vided by IITB, students re-
ceived 1,340 offers, including
pre-placement offers (PPOs),
of which 1,188 were accepted
in the first phase of 2023-24. In
comparison, the institute
recorded 1,648 received offers
n't decided on their future tures. and 1,431 accepted offers in
course of action and 1.6% While the institute is the first phase of placements
were engaged in start-up ven- trying to garner positive sen- in 2022-23.
Three labourers die of electrocution in Thane
THANE: Three migrant labourers, all aged 19,
died of electrocution while working on a water
tank in Thane district on Thursday, an official said.
The incident took place around 11am at Jambul
village near Ambernath. The labourers got an
electric shock due to faulty wiring of a pump in a
water tank. They were rushed to a hospital where
doctors declared the trio dead, the official said.
MUMBAI
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

Drowning tragedy: HC AFTER HUGE UPROAR, AUCTION OF

Crime branch
busts gang that

asks BMC what the

forged docus to
secure bails
VISHAL SINGH / MUMBAI
ANCIENT JAIN IDOLS WITHDRAWN
Todywalla Auctions says it respects the sentiments of Jain community and has withdrawn

price of human life is The Mumbai police crime 17 idols from the auction; community now wants the idols returned to temples where they
branch recently dismantled belong; the FPJ had reported the strong resentment against the proposed auction
a criminal syndicate special-
ising in securing bail for in-
dividuals ensnared in legal
cases through the creation of
counterfeit documents. Five
suspects have been arrested
in connection with the oper-
ation. During a raid in
Mankhurd, Unit 6 seized nu-
merous fraudulent docu-
ments, constituting the bulk
of the evidence collected.
The arrested persons in-
clude Amit Gije, 44, Bandu
Korde, 44, Ahmed Sheikh, 44,
Sanjeev Gupta, 34, and
Umesh Kavle, 48. The sus-
pects allegedly targeted indi-
viduals seeking bail in court
FILE PHOTO: VIJAY GOHIL

proceedings. Subsequently,
they would arrange for a per-
son familiar with them to act

One of them got

URVI MAHAJANI / MUMBAI
“What is the price of a
human life in this city?”
asked the Bombay High
Court on Thursday while tak-
ing suo motu (on its own) cog-
nisance of media reports
highlighting the drowning of
two minor brothers in an
open municipal water tank in
Wadala on March 18.
The court has issued no-
tices to the BMC and also a
notice to the State Advocate
General, seeking his assis-
tance in addressing the ques-
tions that arise. The court has
also appointed senior advo-
cate Sharan Jagtiani and ad-
vocate Mayur Khandeparkar
as amicus curiae (friend of
court) to assist in the matter.
As reported by the FPJ, on
March 17, two brothers, aged
4 and 5 years, went to play at
the Maharshi Karve Garden
at Wadala around 9.30am.
When they did not return till
late, their father lodged a kid-
napping complaint with the
police.
The family continued the
search the next morning.
They searched in the garden
and found that there was a pa-
per cover on the water tank
These three news reports
raise a question of public
law. What is the price of a
human life in this city? Are
the so-called “budgetary
constraints” of the BMC an
answer for a failure to
provide minimal safety
precautions during civic
works?” the HC asked.
which was torn. When they
lifted it, they found that the
two young boys had drowned
in it. Police action is being
taken against officers of the
municipal corporation.
The court noted that the
Wadala Citizens Forum had
complained repeatedly to the
civic body about the
condition of the tank and that
it posed a danger. The BMC
reportedly said that there
were “budgetary constraints”
and there was not enough
funding to provide a proper
cover. The civic body is said to
have simply shifted responsi-
bility to the person appointed
to maintain the garden.
“These three news reports
raise a question of public law.
What is the price of a human
life in this city? Are the so-
called “budgetary
straints” of the BMC an an-
swer for a failure to provide
minimal safety precautions
during civic works?” a bench
of Justices Gautam Patel and
Kamal Khare noted in its or-
der.
The court said that there
will be issues regarding civic
responsibility, questions of
negligence and financial re-
sponsibility as well, “not just
for the individual officers of
the BMC but also for the cor-
poration as a body”.
This would affect every lo-
cal body in the state where
any civic body is entrusted
with the carrying out and
maintenance of civic works
in its jurisdiction.
The judges said that rail-
ways and even the BEST Un-
dertaking, in its transport di-
vision, have a policy and
framework in place for com-
pensation for accidental in-
jury or death.
“It seems to us inconceiv-
able that a municipal corpo-
ration could have no respon-
sibility or liability at all if it is
demonstrated that an acci-
dent or a death has been
caused due to its negligence,”
the bench underlined.
information on people
seeking bail; the other
con- drafted bail
documents and third
would cut the
documents to right
specifications
as a proxy and facilitate the
creation of counterfeit docu-
ments. They would go to
court to secure bail, often
paying a substantial fee, al-
though the exact amount re-
mains undisclosed.
As per details from the
crime branch, Gupta, also
known as Sunny, allegedly
obtained information about
individuals seeking bail.
Subsequently, Korde would
draft the bail documents, and
Gije would handle the
cutting of said documents.
Finally, Sheikh would receive
the prepared documents and
deliver them to Kavle, who
supplied them to beneficiar-
ies.
Deputy Commissioner of
Police Vishal Thakur said
that the forger operated
alone but frequently changed
identities to evade detection.
Acting on a tip-off, the police
set up a trap resulting in the
arrest of the suspects.
DHAIRYA GAJARA / MUMBAI
After facing a nationwide
backlash from the Jain com-
munity, Mumbai auctioneer
Farokh Todywalla has called
off the auction of ancient
Jain idols. The FPJ had re-
ported on Wednesday about
the auction proposal, follow-
ing which there was a huge
uproar from the Jain commu-
nity, which demanded that
the idols of their revered
Tirthankaras be handed over
to it for worship in temples.
The Delhi-based Vishwa
Jain Sangathan filed a cyber-
crime complaint against
Todywalla Auctions, who had
shared a catalogue of 180 arti-
cles to be auctioned at The
Taj, Colaba, on April 16. The
catalogue included 17 ancient
shrines, sandstones and altar-
pieces of Jain Tirthankaras
and Yakshinis, some of them
dating back to the ninth-cen-
tury.
The FPJ had reported
about the strong resentment
within the Jain community
vis-a-vis the proposed auc-
tion. As the auctioning of
Jain idols attracted wide-
spread criticism from the
Jains, a meeting was organ-
ised between the community
members and the auctioneer
at the Gulalwadi Jain Digam-
bar Mandir in Kalbadevi on
Wednesday. Todywalla’s two
THE FPJ
IMPACT
If we are able to stop
the sale of Jain idols
across the country in
this manner, the theft of
these idols will stop by
itself. The ASI needs to
look into this matter and
check the ownership
lineage so that we can
know how these idols
got out of the country
and can finally place
them back in the
temples they were
stolen from.
— Sanjay Kumar Jain
sons met Acharya Push-
padant Sagarji at the temple
where they agreed not to auc-
tion the idols.
Jamnalal Hapawat, nation-
al president of the Digambar
Jain Global Mahasabha, who
was present at the meeting,
told the FPJ, “We cannot be
silent spectators if someone
is auctioning the idols of our
gods. They are symbols of our
faith. Due to the protest-like
atmosphere in the entire com-
munity, we met the
auctioneer and conveyed the
community’s feelings about
the proposed auction. They
met our ‘acharya saheb’ and
have decided to withdraw the
auction as of now. They will
meet us again to discuss the
future plans for the idols.”
“We can’t bear to see these
idols placed anywhere
outside our temples. We will
have a meeting with the auc-
tioneer again to discuss how
we can get these idols,” said
Paras Lohade, national youth
president of the Digambar
Jain Global Mahasabha.
The FPJ contacted Mal-
colm Todywalla from the
Todywalla Auctions, who
confirmed that they have
withdrawn the auction of the
idols. “The Jain community
appreciated our work of
bringing back India’s ancient
heritage and also requested
us to withdraw the idols of
their gods. Respecting their
religious sentiments, we have
withdrawn the 17 Jain idols
from the auction,” said Tody-
walla.
Vishwa Jain Sangathan,
which had also written to the
Mumbai Commissioner of
Police, the Central Bureau of
Investigation, the Archaeo- by itself. The ASI needs to
logical Survey of India (ASI) look into this matter and
and the Ministry of Culture, check the ownership lineage
demanded serious investiga- so that we can know how
tion to find out how these an- these idols got out of the
tique idols were shipped country and can finally place
abroad in the first place. them back in the temples they
“If we are able to stop the were stolen from,” said San-
sale of Jain idols across the jay Kumar Jain, national
country in this manner, the president of Vishwa Jain
theft of these idols will stop Sangathan.

FIRE SAFETY GUIDELINES ON PAPER

Life in jail for man
who raped, killed
child on pavement
CHARUL SHAH JOSHI / MUMBAI was subjected to sexual as-
sault and strangled to
The special court for Pro- death.
tection of Children from As per the prosecution, a
Sexual Offences has sen- man scouted the area with
tenced a footpath dweller to the search team and used to
life imprisonment for sexu- talk to the witness and en-
ally assaulting and stran- quire about the incident,
gling a five-year-old girl to portraying himself to be in-
death in February 2019. The nocent, till the CCTV
child resided on the same footage was checked. The
footpath with her family. prosecution heavily relied
As per the case registered on the footage, wherein he
by the victim’s father, on was seen carrying the girl.
February 6, 2019, The special
he along with his The court said the judge, while
wife and three holding the man
A fire at CP Tank Circle on Thursday charred six shops, two cars and a bike — VIJAY GOHIL children were CCTV footage guilty of sexual
sleeping on the showing the man assault on the
footpath in minor girl and
Mahim. When he taking away the killing her, ob-
Man inspired by YouTube videos, movie woke up to have
water at 5am, he
child was key served, “The
evidence CCTV footage is

attempts to break into ATM, arrested saw his daughter

MEGHA KUCHIK / MUMBAI
The Vakola police, on April 2,
arrested a 21-year-old man for
allegedly attempting to steal
cash from the Bank of Baro-
da’s ATM in Santacruz East.
Acquiring knowledge of
ATM theft techniques from a
Hindi movie and YouTube
videos, Javed Shaikh, a resi-
dent of Palghar, made an un-
successful attempt to break
into the ATM. He is currently
in police custody.
The police said that the
ATM kiosk is situated at
Vakola Pipeline Road. On
April 1, at 6.22pm, Javed en-
tered the ATM and tried to
force open the machine using
a cutter. Despite his sustained
efforts, he was unable to gain
access and fled the scene.
Upon noticing the attempted
theft, bank officer Naveen
Karkal filed a case against an
unidentified individual at the
Vakola police station.
In response to the incident,
the police scrutinised 70-80
CCTV footage recordings
from the vicinity, including
those from the kiosk. Based
on the footage, the accused
was seen riding a blue-
coloured bike towards the
Dhobighat area. The police
set up a trap in the vicinity
and apprehended him. Initial-
ly, he did not cooperate, but
later he confessed to the
missing. The
a strong piece of
evidence which
family searched every- indicates the presence of
crime. The police seized a bag where and lodged a missing accused while taking away
from him containing grinder complaint. In the com- the victim. The production
blades, two blades, a cutter, plaint, the father claimed of CCTV footage has be-
eyeglasses, mechanical that the girl had gone miss- come relevant to establish
gloves, a money cap, a pipe, ing a year ago as well in the guilt on the basis of last
and a bike used in the crimes Pune but was later found at seen theory. It strengthened
and discovered that the bike an orphanage. the case of prosecution.”
was stolen. A day later she went The court said that the
The operation was carried missing in Mahim, the po- accused could not present
out by police sub-inspector lice control room got a call any plausible explanation
Sunil Kengar and his team at 10am that a girl child was against the evidence pre-
under the supervision of sen- found motionless behind a sented by the prosecution
ior police inspector Prakash furniture showroom. A against him. “The accused
Khandekar. According to po- team immediately reached was bound to give an expla-
lice records, no prior cases the spot and rushed the girl nation. However, he failed
have been filed against Javed to Sion Hospital, where she to give any such explana-
as he wasn’t apprehended be- was declared dead. Several tion, closing out the possi-
fore. The police have filed a injuries were found on her bility of any other hypothe-
case against him under sec- body and private parts. The sis, then a conviction can be
tion 379 (theft) of the Indian postmortem revealed that based thereon,” the court
Penal Code. the girl had 13 injuries and said.
Godown owner booked for storing food items beyond expiry date
Thane: An owner of a godown in Thane was booked for
allegedly storing several food items, including cheese
and ketchup, beyond their date of expiry, an official said
on Thursday. The case was registered against Rafique
B’day tree planting drive grows
Grow-Trees planted 19.5 million trees in last 14 years; sponsors are mostly corporate houses
MANOJ RAMAKRISHNAN /
MUMBAI
A tree-growing programme
that also encourages citizens
to plant trees to celebrate
weddings, birthdays, and me-
morials, has crossed 19 mil-
lion plantings and hopes to
reach the 20-million
milestone during this mon-
soon season.
Grow-Trees, started by
Pradip Shah, the first Manag-
ing Director of credit ratings
agency, CRISIL, has planted
19.5 million trees in the last 14
years. The organisation’s tree
nurseries are now literally do-
ing the groundwork for anoth-
er 4.5 million plantings during
the rainy season which will
begin in two months.
Vikas Puthran, head of
partnerships at Grow-Trees,
said that most of the tree
sponsors are corporate hous-
es, but individuals, or retail
sponsors as they are called,
are a small but important
part of the programme. “We
largely work with corporate
sponsors, but retail is impor-
tant for behavioural change,”
said Puthran, explaining that
sensitising citizens about the
idea of growing more trees is
an intrinsic part of the proj-
ect. “Couples have donated to
the programme during their
wedding. They get an
eTreecertificate that they can
Prop tax cheques bounce, BMC Man arrested for
takes action against defaulters defrauding woman
in adoption scam
SHEFALI PARAB-PANDIT /
MUMBAI
The BMC has initiated legal
action against property tax de-
faulters whose cheques
bounced. Dishonour of a
cheque is a criminal offence
and punishable by both im-
prisonment and fine.
As per data till March 31,
2024, 892 cheques deposited in
the bank in the last financial
year, amounting to Rs43.54
crore, bounced. Most default-
ers were builders and owners
Pantograph mishap: 20 suburban
trains cancelled and 60 delayed
KAMAL MISHRA/ MUMBAI
Over 20 suburban train serv-
ices were cancelled and 60
trains were delayed on Thurs-
day afternoon after a panto-
graph mishap near Kalyan
railway station at 12:35 pm re-
sulted in the entanglement of
an empty local train heading
towards the stabling line.
Popular trains like the Dhule
Express, Chennai Express,
Mangala Lakshadweep Ex-
press, and others experienced
delays of up to 50 minutes.
Despite efforts to keep slow
corridor services
operational, delays persisted
for commuters travelling
along this route. Railway per-
Five assault
petrol pump
worker
VISHAL SINGH/ MUMBAI
The Dongri police on Thurs-
day detained five boys, aged
between 17 and 23 years, in-
cluding two minors, near JJ
Junction for assaulting a
petrol pump employee.
The victim Shivshankar
Gupta, 23, confronted the
group when they refused to
pay for petrol at Saiesh Petrol
Pump on PD Mello Road
around 1.30pm on Wednesday.
After filling petrol worth
Rs600, Gupta demanded pay-
ment. During the altercation,
one of the boys allegedly bit
Gupta, stole Rs2000 from him,
and physically attacked him.
When Gupta resisted, the
boys in the backseat re-
strained him while the driver
dragged him with the car,
causing injuries to his hand.
The police identified the
suspects using CCTV footage
and arrested Mohammad Yu-
nis Aborliya, 19, Adarshali
Shaikh, 23, and Fukhran
Shaikh, 19, while the minors
were sent to a Children’s
Home.
The group faces charges
under various sections of the
Indian Penal Code, including
voluntarily causing hurt in
committing robbery, rash
driving, acts endangering the
lives of others, and criminal
intimidation. Some of the
suspects have prior criminal
records.
Siddique Memon following a raid at the godown located
at Nhavipada in Bhiwandi on Wednesday, he said. The
goods, worth Rs24,15,000 as per the retail prices printed
on the products, have been seized, he said.
cherish for a long time.”
One of the couples who
were drawn into the cause is
Rahil and Sanya who were
contemplating different ideas
for ‘return gifts’ for guests at
their recent wedding. “When
our friends introduced us to
Grow-Trees, it was exactly
what we were looking for: an
effective yet simple way of
gifting,” the couple shared in
an Instagram post. “We re-
ceived some very heartfelt
messages from our guests
who were thrilled to know
trees had been planted in
of commercial premises and
societies, according to civic
sources. The BMC sent notices
to all these defaulters under
the Negotiable Instruments
Act and recovered Rs37.83
crore from 853 of them in the
past few months. However,
warnings to 38 have gone un-
heeded.
As per data from the asses-
sor and collection
department, around 3,945
properties have been attached
worth over Rs2,237 crore since
2010. After facing a severe cash
sonnel worked to rectify the
pantograph entanglement,
gradually restoring services
by 2.20pm.
Suresh Kambale, a regular
commuter of CR, stressed the
importance of such incidents
in highlighting the need for
vigilance and preparedness.
MahaRERA registration for
4,332 new projects out of 5,371
KAMAL MISHRA/ MUMBAI
The Maharashtra Real Estate
Regulatory Authority (Ma-
haRERA), in the last
financial year ending on
March 31, issued registration
numbers to 4,332 new projects
out of 5,471 applications it re-
ceived. Of the total approved
projects, Pune had the
highest number of projects
with 1,172 projects. Following
Pune are Thane (597), Mum-
bai Suburban (528), Raigad
(450), Nagpur (336), Nashik
(310), and so on.
If the numbers are looked
at region-wise, the Mumbai
Metropolitan Region (MMR)
comprising Mumbai, Mum-
bai Suburban, Thane, Raigad
and also known as Konkan
region had the highest num-
ber at 1,976 new projects.
After this, Pune, Kolhapur,
Solapur, Sangli and Satara in
Western Maharashtra had
second highest approvals
with 1,415 projects, followed
by Vidarbha with 437
projects. Within Vidarbha,
Nagpur had 336 projects.
Northern Maharashtra saw
347 new projects, out of which
Nashik had 310 projects, and
Marathwada with 149 new
projects, including 117 from
Aurangabad. Additionally,
there are 8 projects in Dadra
Nagar Haveli. To ensure the
timely completion of
their honour.”
Harish Chawla, a resident
of Mira Road who describes
himself as a social entrepre-
neur, said that sponsoring
tree plantings is one of the op-
tions he is considering for his
daughter Neha’s wedding in
August. “My daughter works
in the CSR department of a
multinational company and
she wants a wedding that is
environment friendly, with
use of sustainable materials
and gifts. Sponsoring trees to
celebrate an event is an im-
pressive idea and I would like
crunch during the pandemic,
the civic authorities started
cracking down on property
tax defaulters. Despite not
having sufficient balance, the
defaulters issued cheques to
avoid BMC intervention in at-
tachment of properties for
non-payment.
Property tax is the second-
highest revenue source of the
BMC. The BMC managed to
collect Rs3,195 crore as proper-
ty tax, which is Rs1,300 crore
short of the Rs4,500 crore tar-
get set for the 2023-24 fiscal.
Metro-1 services
disrupted
The Ghatkopar-Andheri-
Versova corridor, a major
Mumbai Metro line serving
over three lakh daily
commuters, faced
disruptions Thursday
morning due to a technical
snag around 10am,
leading to delays towards
Versova.
Social media platforms
were flooded with reports,
images, and videos
showing long queues and
overcrowding at Ghatkopar
and Andheri stations.
projects, MahaRERA scruti-
nises every project thorough-
ly at three levels – legal, finan-
cial, and technical.
Apart from this, owing to
irregularities in the Kalyan-
Dombivali area, while seek-
ing MahaRERA
registration, it has been
made mandatory to get a
copy of commencement cer-
tificate (CC) from the con-
cerned planning authorities.
This communication is
shared via a pre-determined
designated email address on
the sid of planning authori-
ties as well as MahaRERA.
This decision has come into
effect starting June 19 and
registration number is not
issued until the due dili-
gence is done.
Remaining 1,139 projects
are under scrutiny. Once the
developers of these projects
rectify errors and don’t leave
behind any deficiencies, reg-
istration numbers will be is-
sued to them.
retail is important for
behavioural change. Couples
have donated to the programme
during their wedding. They get
an eTreecertificate that they can
cherish for a long time.
multinational company and she
wants a wedding that is
environment friendly, with use of
sustainable materials and gifts.
Sponsoring trees to celebrate an
event is an impressive idea and I
would like to contribute to it.
to contribute to it,” said
Chawla.
Grow-Trees’ planting sites
are spread out in 23 states and
the average number of trees
at a location is 50,000 or more.
At some sites, the group has
claimed to have planted be-
tween 1,00,000 and a million
trees. Locations are largely
community land in villages
that are not used for agricul-
ture. Permissions are ob-
tained from village panchay-
ats to create plantations and
residents are involved in the
programme that uses only in-
MEGHA KUCHIK / MUMBAI
The Samta Nagar police on
March 31 apprehended a 29-
year-old man, Sahil Sheikh,
for allegedly defrauding a
woman of nearly Rs9 lakh un-
der the guise of assisting her
with child adoption.
The case dates back to No-
vember 2020, when the
woman was introduced to
Sheikh through a friend, who
allegedly offered to help her
adopt a child. According to
the police, the victim is a 46-
year-old woman residing in
Kandivali East and currently
works as a caregiver. After ex-
periencing difficulties con-
ceiving during her 15-year
marriage, she sought to adopt
a child.
Sheikh claimed to have
arranged a child from an
ashram and requested funds
for the adoption process. Sub-
sequently, he collected per-
sonal documents and Rs1.7
lakh from her, providing a
photo of the girl child, but lat-
er informed her of the child’s
demise due to Covid-19. He
then promised the com-
plainant another child.
Sheikh then informed the
victim about a girl living with
her grandmother, who was
unable to care for her. Exploit-
ing this situation, he demand-
ed more money from the vic-
tim, enticing her with the
District-wise
projects approved
MMR and Konkan
1976 projects
Mumbai City 77
Mumbai Suburbs 528
Thane 597
Raigad 450
Palghar 223
Ratnagiri 66
Sindhudurg 35
Western Maharashtra
1415 projects
Pune 1172
Kolhapur 85
Satara
Sangli
66
53
Solapur 39
Vidarbha 437 projects
Nagpur 336
Amaravati 45
Wardha 24
Chandrapur 12
Akola 11
Washim 4 with the company. It was dis-
Bhandara 3 covered that both appoint-
Buldana & Gadchiroli 1each
North Maharashtra
347 projects
Nasik 310
Ahmednagar 28
Jalgaon 8 son named Vikas. Fearing le-
Dhule 1 gal
Marathwada 149 projects
Sambhajinagar 117
Latur 16
Nanded 8 ing.
We largely work with
corporate sponsors, but
Vikas Puthran,
Head of partnerships
at Grow-Trees
My daughter works in the
CSR department of a
Harish Chawla,
Mira Road resident
digenous species.
Every tree planted in the
programme has a unique
number that indicates the site
where it is growing. Since the
planting sites are spread over
large land parcels most of
over 90 projects are in rural
areas. The closest site to
Mumbai is Bhatsai village in
Thane’s Shahpur taluk where
some 60,000 trees, mostly local
species like teak, karanj, and
around, have been planted.
Sponsoring a single tree can
cost between Rs85 to Rs150,
depending on the site.
n Woman, 46, sought to
adopt a child after
difficulties in conceiving
n Sheikh promised to assist
with adoption, collected
`1.7 lakh, and provided a
photo of a girl child
n Later claimed child died,
promised another child;
duped woman of `9 lakh
promise that all properties
owned by the girl’s grand-
mother would be transferred
to her in the future. Conse-
quently, he managed to extort
Rs9.14 lakh. Despite the pay-
ment, the child was not hand-
ed over to her.
Additionally, Sheikh mis-
used the victim’s documents
to secure a loan for a motorcy-
cle. Realising the deception,
the woman lodged a case with
the Samta Nagar police in No-
vember 2022.
After his arrest, Sheikh
confessed he had no affilia-
tion with any orphanage or
institution. A police officer
said that Sheikh worked as a
security guard and
frequently changed his ad-
dress. He resides in Versova,
Andheri West, and was ar-
rested with the assistance of
technical means. No prior
cases have been filed against
him.
3 booked for
fake docus to
obtain US visa
MEGHA KUCHIK / MUMBAI
The American consulate in
Bandra has lodged a case
against three people for al-
legedly presenting fake ap-
pointment letters to obtain
visas. The case was
registered at the BKC police
station on April 3. The ac-
cused people absconded from
the consulate upon realising
that legal action would be
taken against them.
According to the police,
Abel Willson, 22 and Suraj
Nair, 30, both hailing from
Kerala, were invited by the
consulate for visa interviews
scheduled for February 27 at
10.30am. They submitted ap-
pointment letters purported-
ly issued by Carnival Support
Services India Private Limit-
ed, reputed as India’s largest
crewing company. Suspicions
arose among officers,
prompting them to verify the
authenticity of the letters
ment letters were fake.
Willson and Nair had or-
chestrated the fabrication of
the appointment letters with
the assistance of another per-
action, the duo
abandoned their passports
and Certificate-cum-Seafar-
ers' Identity Documents at
the consulate before abscond-
MUMBAIMUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
‘Vadhavan Port will help
India prosper, state grow’
THE FPJ
EXCLUSIVE
BHALCHANDRA CHORGHADE /
NAVI MUMBAI
In an exclusive interview,
Jawaharlal Nehru Port Au-
thority (JNPA) Chairman
Unmesh Sharad Wagh dis-
cusses the significance of the
upcoming Vadhavan Port
and its transformative
impact on India’s maritime
landscape. Here are the high-
lights of the interview:
What factors led JNPA to
decide on constructing an-
other port?
India’s container traffic,
though seemingly small at
2%, translates to over two
crore annually. With globali-
sation, integrating into the
global supply chain necessi-
tates efficient ports, especial-
ly for container handling.
JNPA’s existing capacity is
nearly 85% utilised, primari-
ly serving states in western
and central parts of the coun-
try that comprises JNPA,
Mundra and Pipavav ports. If
we have excess capacity in
Paradip Port for containers,
which is in the eastern part
of India, it is of no use for the
Punjab manufacturer due to
heavy logistics cost to be in-
curred. The distance to the
gateway port, which provides
a door to the world, is impor-
tant since the port should be
closer to the manufacturing
factory. In China, the distance
between port and the manu-
facturing unit is 70km
(350km maximum and 350km
minimum). In India, it is
350km average and maxi-
mum 700km. We already have
a problem here, but our ca-
pacity utilisation at present
is around 80%, catering to the
states of Maharashtra, Gu-
jarat, North Goa, North Kar-
nataka, Telangana, Punjab,
Haryana, NCR, Western UP,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattis-
garh, to name a few. For this,
we decided to have another
port so that cargo from these
states can be moved to the
other parts of the country in
a cost-effective way.
Any insights into the strate-
gic importance of Vadhavan
as a location?
In future, India’s manufac-
turing will happen around
Maharashtra and Gujarat
due to its proximity to the ex-
isting JNPA and other ports.
As far as southern India is
concerned, the port situated
there takes care of the cargo
coming from surrounding
VIEW
W P INT
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FOR COMPPELLING CONVERSAT
ANND PERSPECTIVES
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states. For northern India, it
is for Maharashtra and Gu-
jarat to handle. You cannot
have a port below Mumbai as
the distance increases and
the mighty Sahyadris pose a
huge problem for
evacuation. You also cannot
go towards Saurashtra as the
distance and the draft is not
there. Only draft available
for the future is north of Va-
sai and south of Vapi. There
are only five spots where you
have a good draft which are
all located in Palghar
Unmesh Sharad Wagh
district. Of these five, the
nearest is Vadhavan. So, we
don’t have any area or spot to
develop a port for India's fu-
ture which is as strategically
and economically positioned
as Vadhavan.
What’s the total cost for the
port? Will there be any for-
eign funding or collabora-
tion?
The total cost of Vadhavan
Port amounts to Rs76,200
crore, with JNPA and Maha-
rashtra Maritime Board
(MMB) sharing the invest-
ment at a ratio of 76:24. While
JNPA is committed to invest-
ing Rs40,000 crore, foreign
funding is viable given the
JNPA’s robust financial posi-
tion and steady cash flow.
How many terminals are
being planned?
The port will boast nine con-
tainer terminals, four multi-
purpose terminals, four liq-
uid terminals, and additional
JOIN
ATIONS
facilities. Terminals will be
offered on a public-private
partnership (PPP), fostering
private-sector involvement in
port infrastructure develop-
ment.
Any timeline when the port
will start operations?
Pending cabinet clearance,
construction is expected to
commence post-elections,
with operations slated to be-
gin by December 2029.
What are the anticipated
economic benefits?
The port will stimulate eco-
nomic growth, create job op-
portunities, and reduce logis-
tics costs, benefiting Maha-
rashtra, Palghar, and the na-
tion at large.
What are the key features
and capabilities that will
distinguish it from others?
Vadhavan Port’s 20-meter
draft and state-of-the-art in-
frastructure set it apart, en-
abling the handling of larger
vessels and enhancing opera-
tional efficiency.
How does JNPA plan to inte-
grate technology and inno-
vation into its design and
operation?
The port will leverage ad-
vanced technologies for
dredging, infrastructure de-
velopment, and operational
management, ensuring opti-
mal performance and effi-
ciency.
What efforts are being
made with local communi-
ties and stakeholders?
We have already identified 27
skill sets that are required to
get a job at the port. We have
started imparting training to
the people while more than
100 people have already been
given employment. Addition-
al efforts are underway to en-
gage local communities
through skill development
programs, employment op-
portunities.
Seven men loot `19.9 lakh from Yeoor Hills farmhouse
Thane: Cash and gold cumulatively valued at Rs19.9 lakh
were robbed from a farmhouse in Yeoor Hills in Thane district
on Thursday, a police official said. The crime was committed
by a gang of seven armed persons in the early hours of the
BMC refutes
claims of dirty
water in Vikhroli
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI
Several housing societies in
the MHADA colony at
Vikhroli have reported re-
ceiving contaminated water
for the last few days. After
several such complaints, the
BMC has undertaken work to
detect any possible leakage in
the pipeline with advanced
crawler cameras.
The residents of Kan-
namwar Nagar said they
have been receiving contami-
nated water due to the burst-
ing of water and sewerage
lines. “As the buildings are in
MHADA layout and haven’t
been transferred to the BMC,
we are forced to turn to both
agencies if problems arise.
We are boiling and drinking
water to avoid any health
risks,” said Rahul Kamble, a
local resident. Another resi-
Residents say they
have to contact
two agencies
dent Veena Desai said they
have been using bottled
water for the past few days.
“We have informed MHA-
DA officials about the matter
and have also undertaken
several steps to resolve the is-
sue,” said a civic official. The
BMC is using advanced
crawler cameras that travel
up to 200mt and can reach in-
accessible spots, he said. “It
will also help to get data like
the size and width of the
pipeline. Apart from this, the
samples of contaminated wa-
ter are collected and sent for
testing,” he added.
Officials said they have
also carried out a survey of
500 houses covering a popula-
tion of around 2,658 in Kan-
namwar Nagar. “Out of
them, only two to three resi-
dents complained about vom-
iting owing to water. They
have been provided medical
treatment,” said a civic offi-
cial. The BMC refuted the in-
formation and claimed that
they did not find any rise in
waterborne infections in the
civic and private hospitals in
nearby areas.
day, the Vartak Nagar police station official said. “As per the
owner, who stays there with his 74-year-old mother, seven
persons armed with guns, knives and iron rods barged in,
tied them up and looted cash and gold,” he said.
Voices Unite for River
Protection Across India
River Valley Forum and Medha Patkar’s National Alliance of People’s
Movement want the Centre to consider their river protection manifesto
RUCHA KANOLKAR / MUMBAI
Government policies – both at
the Centre and state levels –
are a cause of concern where
protection of rivers is in-
volved, said representatives
of various organisations at
the River Valley Forum, or-
ganised on April 4 under the
National Alliance of People’s
Movements (NAPM), in
Mumbai.
The River Valley Forum
and NAPM are circulating
the draft of the People’s River
Protection Bill to political
parties and MPs, aiming for
its incorporation into mani-
festos to raise awareness
about the significant chal-
lenges facing rivers and river-
ine communities. Environ-
mental issues, particularly
the plight of dying rivers and
the need for rejuvenation, are
often neglected in these man-
ifestos, which is why activists
urge government and politi-
cal organisations to prioritise
environmental concerns in
their agendas.
Medha Patkar, social ac-
tivist and founder of NAPM
said, “From the glacial rivers
of the Himalaya to the Peri-
yar, we are campaigning for
rivers to be recognised as liv-
ing entities, demanding the
strengthening and decentral-
isation of river governance
and riparian rights of peas-
ants – especially smallhold-
SoBo couple loses `44k and car in vehicle transport fraud
VISHAL SINGH / MUMBAI
A doctor couple from south
Mumbai lost Rs44,000 and
their car in a bid to transport
the vehicle to Visakhapat-
nam. Stuti Basu, 36, works at
Tata Hospital in Parel. Her
husband Sabyasachi was
transferred to Homi Bhabha
ers, fisherfolk, nomadic com-
munities, and several indige-
nous and marginalised com-
munities.”
Manshi Asher of Himd-
hara Paryavaran Samuh in
Himachal Pradesh said, “The
Himalayan rivers demand at-
tention nationally and inter-
nationally. Despite their vital
role in our ecosystem and
food security, political mani-
festos overlook environmen-
tal concerns. The proposal for
138 dams in Himachal
Pradesh alone is alarming,
with a clear connection be-
tween dam construction and
disasters. The region faces
threats of floods due to
unchecked infrastructure de-
velopment. Authorities must
prioritise sustainable prac-
tices over hydroelectric dams
to preserve the environ-
ment.”
The ongoing struggle in
Cancer Research Centre in
Visakhapatnam and wanted
his car transported from
Mumbai to the new location
for three months.
The couple scanned
Google for options on trans-
porters and found one (Agar-
wal Transport Company) on
March 24. After initial con-
Ladakh highlights the ur-
gency of the ecological crisis
in the region. The linked
issue of mismanagement of
transboundary rivers was
further highlighted by Ma-
hendra Yadav of Kosi Nav
Nirman Manch, Bihar.
River embankments have
been pushed as false solutions
to control rivers and have be-
come a cause of floods. The ri-
parian communities have
faced displacement and even
mechanisms like the Kosi
Peedit Vikas Pradhikaran
have been only paper and
have provided no relief or re-
habilitation, said Yadav.
Rajkumar Sinha from Bar-
gi and Basania Bandh Sang-
harsh, Madhya Pradesh,
highlighted the twin prob-
lems of urban pollution and
illegal sand mining and its
tributaries. “Unless there is a
public dialogue and involve-
tact, one Pankaj Singh got
back and sought Rs17,000 for
the delivery but wanted the
money transferred before the
job. On March 27, a person
took the car and messaged
saying he needed to pay for
the transport insurance,
which Sabyasachi refused.
When Sabyasachi tracked
n The River Valley
Forum and NAPM are
circulating the draft of
the People’s River
Protection Bill to
political parties and
MPs.
n River embankments
have been pushed as
false solutions to
control rivers and have
become a cause of
floods.
ment in governance we can-
not address these questions,”
he said and also highlighted
how adivasis, who conserve
water bodies and forests more
in scheduled areas, are facing
the brunt of extractive devel-
opmental policies.
Speaking from the Mul-
laperiyar experience, SP Ravi
from All Kerala River Protec-
tion Council raised the need
for “people to people dialogue
for conflict resolution instead
of relying on politicians who
only escalate the conflicts for
vested interests”.
The key highlights of the
proposed draft bill include
recognising rivers as vital life
sources and prioritising their
protection in development
paradigms, addressing unjust
encroachments like dams and
embankments while aligning
with existing laws, besides
many others.
the car online, he found out
that his car had reached Sola-
pur. The next day, he found
out that the vehicle was on
hold due to non payment so
he transferred Rs27,840.
The car, however, didn’t
reach Visakhapatnam and
Singh started avoiding the
couple’s calls.
MUMBAI
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
Are you breathing fresh air?
BMC stakes claim to better AQI
RUCHA KANOLKAR / MUMBAI
The BMC claims that its
consistent deep clean drive
in the city has resulted in
the improvement of the air
quality index (AQI).
Through the cleanliness
campaign, initiated in De-
cember 2023 across all ad-
ministrative departments,
the civic body asserts that
the AQI is consistently be-
low 100. Some areas even re-
port levels as low as 70, it
IIT-B report on Barfiwala flyover,
Gokhale bridge alignment by Sunday
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI
The BMC is planning to align
Gopal Krishna Gokhale
bridge with the adjoining CD
Barfiwala flyover in Andheri
before the monsoon. The
work will start soon after the
Indian Institute of Technolo-
gy-Bombay submit their final
report, which is expected to
be in the next couple of days.
Civic officials recently
held a joint meeting with ex-
perts from IIT-B and Veerma-
ta Jijabai Technological In-
stitute (VJTI) to discuss the
alignment. While IIT-B has
cleared VJTI’s recommenda-
tion on aligning both the
said. The campaign’s focus
on spraying streets with wa-
ter has led to a reduction in
dust particles, consequently
improving air quality, offi-
cials claimed.
A BMC official said they
initiated the cleanliness
campaign across all admin-
istrative departments in De-
cember 2023. “After nearly 18
weeks, there has been a re-
duction in air pollution indi-
cators, and citizens have also
expressed satisfaction with
bridges, the final report with
some modifications is expect-
ed by Sunday, sources said.
After carrying out an in-
spection of both the struc-
tures, VJTI proposed elevat-
ing Barfiwala bridge using
jacks to merge its north side
with Gokhale bridge without
undertaking any demolition.
However, the BMC ap-
proached IIT-B for a second
opinion and a site inspection
was organised for them last
week. A senior civic official
said that as per IIT-B’s sug-
gestion, instead of lifting all
the four spans of Barfiwala
flyover at once to align with
Gokhale bridge, each of the
SALMAN ANSARI
the improvement. Some de-
partments conduct these
drives monthly, while others
do so bi-monthly, leading to
an overall elevation in clean-
liness standards,” the official
said.
On March 30, the BMC un-
dertook a cleaning campaign
across all 25 wards. A total of
1,477 municipal employees
participated in this initiative
and 556km of road network
was washed and 70 metric
tonne of waste was collected.
four would be lifted one at a
time. The work can also be
carried out without inviting
a separate tender, which will
not require permission from
the Election Commission
and the work can also be com-
pleted before the monsoon.
The BMC faced severe crit-
icism after it was observed
that the newly constructed
Gokhale bridge’s phase 1 had
a height difference of nearly
two metres from the adjoin-
ing Barfiwala flyover. The
civic authorities have as-
sured the alignment of the
two bridges and the second
arm of the Gokhale bridge by
December.
PUNE
Pune civic body plans to vaccinate 1.80 lakh stray dogs
PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation's government. According to Dr Sarika Phunde,
(PMC) health department is planning to Head of PMC's Veterinary Department, five
vaccinate 1.80 lakh stray dogs over a six- organisations have been appointed to carry
month period as part of the rabies-free out vaccination and sterilisation work,
PUNE | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024 campaign mandated by the central which will commence shortly.

Punekars demand action against parked

ELECTRICITY TARIFF HIKE

vehicles & encroachments on footpaths

ANKIT SHUKLA
In many parts of Pune, foot-
paths designated for pedestri-
an use have turned into
illegal parking spots. Addi-
tionally, vendors have en-
croached upon these foot-
paths to sell various products
such as clothes and
cosmetics. This has left com-
mon citizens with the impres-
sion that the Pune Municipal
Corporation (PMC) and Pune
City Traffic Police are turn-
ing a blind eye to the issue,
possibly being hand in glove
with the violators.
Nilanjana Das, a Meanwhile, speaking to
commuter, voiced concerns,
saying, "In the city, many foot-
paths are blocked by vendors
or parked vehicles, making it
hard for people to walk safely.
The administration needs to
clear these blockages so
everyone can walk without
any struggle. There is no per-
manent solution as vendors
are aware of the timing of po-
lice patrolling and according-
ly, they remove their stalls
and later they come back
again."
We have started a
special drive against
the encroachers on footpaths.
Accordingly, we are collecting
unclaimed vehicles and
putting fines on them. We
will take strict action against
the violators, identifying the
spots
Raj Singh, a resident of
MG Road, observed that ven-
- Rohidas Pawar, dors have overtaken almost
Deputy Commissioner of all footpaths without fear of
Police (Traffic) police action, alleging politi-
cal backing and extortion
Sect 144 to be
imposed near
nomination centres
STAFF REPORTER: The Pune City Po-
lice announced on Wednesday the imposi-
tion of Section 144 in a 200-metre radius
around the two nomination filing centres
in the city — the Council Hall and the Dis-
trict Collector Office — from April 12 to 29.
During this period, the processes of filing,
scrutinising, and withdrawing nomina-
tions will take place at these centres.
The jurisdiction of Pune City Police
covers areas within the Pune and Shirur
Lok Sabha constituencies, scheduled for
polls on May 13, as well as Baramati,
which will vote on May 7. The Council
Hall is designated as the nomination filing
centre for Baramati, while the District
NOMINATION
FILING CENTRES
Council Hall
Baramati Lok Sabha constituency
District Collector
Office
Pune and Shirur Lok Sabha
constituencies
Collector Office serves for Pune and
Shirur. Under Section 144, candidates are
permitted a maximum of four accompa-
nying persons during nomination filing.
Additionally, rallies, marches, and speech-
es are prohibited in these areas, as is the
use of loudspeakers and the pasting of
messages. Only three vehicles per candi-
date will be allowed within a 100-metre ra-
dius of these centres.
Violators of these regulations will face
prosecution under Section 188 of the Indi-
an Penal Code (IPC) for disobeying orders
promulgated by public officers.
But now the footpaths are
also equally worse. How
should people walk?" asked
Tejas Pawar, another resi-
dent.
Vikrant Mishra, a resi-
dent of Hadapsar, said, "In
local areas, footpaths are of-
ten dirty, strewn with
garbage, and poorly main- Supriya Sule, Ravindra
Dhangekar stage protest
tained, mostly occupied by
street shops. Efforts must
be made to address these is-
sues, ensuring footpaths are
clean and free from obstruc-
tion for the benefit of all
pedestrians and the com-
STAFF REPORTER Starting April 1, the ple (by increasing electricity
tariff), the people will also
munity at large." Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Maharashtra State give a shock to them soon."
leaders, including Supriya Electricity Distribution Senior Congress leader
The Free Press Journal, Sule, NCP (SP) candidate and former MLA Mohan
Aniruddha Pawaskar, Head from Baramati Lok Sabha Company (MSEDCL) Joshi, NCP (SP) Pune City
of the Road Department at constituency, and Ravindra has increased its tariff chief Prashant Jagtap, Con-
PMC, acknowledged the is- Dhangekar, Congress nomi- gress Pune City chief Arvind
sue and stated that efforts nee from Pune Lok Sabha Shinde, and many other lead-
were underway to address it constituency, staged a protest tariff," she said. Sule also ers were present at the
in coordination with the en- on Thursday at Power House warned that the protest will protest.
croachment and traffic po- Chowk in Pune against the continue until the govern- Starting April 1, the Maha-
lice departments. "Action electricity tariff hike. ment withdraws the electrici- rashtra State Electricity Dis-
has been taken but some- Taking to X (formerly Twit- ty tariff hike. tribution Company (MSED-
how the encroachments ter), Sule denounced the elec- Dhangekar shared a video CL) has increased its tariff.
come up again. Still, we are tricity tariff hike as "unjust". on X in which he voiced his Consumers will see an aver-
trying to remove encroach- "The state government has in- concerns, "The state govern- age 7.50 per cent increase in
ments from roads and foot- creased the electricity tariff ment is increasing the elec- their electricity bills, along
paths and take it as a prior- excessively from the month tricity tariff when elections with a 10 per cent rise in the
ity issue." of April. Common citizens, are approaching then what fixed rate. This is bound to af-
Rohidas Pawar, Deputy who are already suffering will they do when the elec- fect all consumer categories,
Commissioner of Police from inflation, will have to tions are done? People should including households,
(Traffic), said, "We have start- bear the financial burden due think about this. Like they traders, farmers, and indus-
ed a special drive against the to an increase in electricity have given a shock to the peo- tries.
encroachers on footpaths. Ac-
cordingly, we are collecting
('hafta') as contributing fac-
tors. "The police take away
a permanent solution to this
problem faced by pedestri-
unclaimed vehicles and put-
ting fines on them. We will
take strict action against the
PMC prohibits road digging from May 1 to Sept 30
their handcarts, but they ans. violators, identifying the STAFF REPORTER: The Pune Municipal Similar measures were implemented last
bring a new one immediate- "The roads are already bad spots. Besides, no one is al- Corporation (PMC) has imposed a deadline year, with action taken against contractors
ly," he said, adding that the due to constant digging for lowed to park the vehicles on of April 30 to complete all road-digging who failed to adhere to deadlines.Addition-
administration needs to find water and drainage pipelines. footpaths." projects throughout the city. Subsequently, ally, PMC officials, including junior engi-
from May 1 to September 30, encompassing neers, were fined for inadequate
the rainy season, the civic body has an- monitoring of road excavation activities.
MIT-ADT hosts conference on global tech trends nounced its intention to take legal action
against any unauthorised road-digging ac-
It's been reported that PMC
penalised contractors for digging roads
STAFF REPORTER rector of MIT-ADT University,
tivities. A notice to this effect was issued on
Tuesday.
without proper authorisation in areas
such as Nagar Road, Warje, and Sinhagad
MIT Art Design & Technology
highlighted the university's
commitment to promoting inno-
Reportedly, only emergency work will be
permitted during this period. These emer-
Road. A total fine of approximately ₹50
lakh was collected from 10 different con-
University (MIT-ADT) recently vation and providing employ- gency works may include tasks related to tractors.
played host to the sixth national ment opportunities for startups stormwater drains, water supply, roads, Annually, the civic body allocates ₹80
conference on 'Innovative Global and students. In his presidential electricity supply, and cellular or internet lakh towards road excavation and restora-
Technology Trends', drawing message, Prof Dr Mangesh supply lines, among others. tion efforts.
renowned personalities from ac- Karad, Executive President and
ademia, industry, and govern- Vice-Chancellor, MIT-ADT Uni- SWANTATRYA VEER SAVARKAR
ment sectors. The conference, versity, emphasised the impor- Sex racket
held at the university's premises
in Pune, provided a platform for in-
sightful discussions, knowledge shar-
tive landscape. Highlighting India's
achievements in space missions and
tance of responsible technology
use while advocating for researchers to
contribute to India's vision of a 'Devel-
busted in Balan thanks Hooda for
Koregaon Park
fulfilment of promise
ing, and collaboration aimed at shaping missile technology, Dr Ramrao under- oped India@2047'.
the future of technology on a global scored the importance of leveraging As the conference progressed, atten-
scale. technology for societal progress. dees engaged in interactive sessions, ANKIT SHUKLA
Padmashree Dr Pralhad Ramrao, Eminent personalities including Dr workshops, and presentations, explor-
former Director of the Defence Re- Parag Kalkar, Pro Vice-Chancellor of ing innovative trends and strategies to Seven women, including four STAFF REPORTER this, the rich contribution
search and Development Organisation Savitribai Phule Pune University, address global challenges. The event from Thailand, were rescued of the mandal to the free-
(DRDO) and Vice-Chancellor of S- shared valuable insights into emerging concluded on a note of gratitude, re- after a prostitution racket op- Actor Randeep Hooda's lat- dom struggle is tried to be
Vyasa University, Bangalore, delivered technologies such as AI and Metaverse, flecting the spirit of collaboration and erating under the guise of a est film, 'Swantatrya Veer put in front of the people. It
the keynote address, emphasising the as well as the role of government initia- excellence that defines MIT-ADT's ini- spa was busted in Pune's up- Savarkar,' has recently hit is the motive of the film
need for Indian technology to expand tives in fostering innovation. tiatives in the field of technology and scale neighbourhood of Ko- the screens, offering view- that, through this, people
its global footprint amidst the competi- Prof Dr Sunita Karad, Executive Di- innovation. regaon Park, officials in- ers a glimpse into the his- will learn how the inde-
formed on Thursday. torical significance of the pendence movement
According to the police, the Shrimant Bhausaheb Ran- thrived through the festival.
R Raj Rao’s ‘Mahmud And Ayaz’ to be launched today
Social Security Cell of the gari Ganpati Mandal. This "The history of Shrimant
Crime Branch conducted a portrayal marks the fulfil- Bhausaheb Rangari Ganap-
raid on Ela Spa in Koregaon ment of a promise made by ati Mandal is of unique im-
Park on Tuesday evening, Hooda to Punit Balan, the portance to the freedom
STAFF REPORTER from the leg- temporary teaching fair with him. dismantling the prostitution trustee and head of the fes- struggle of India. Hooda
endary love story job in a second-rate Their unconventional life racket and rescuing seven tival of the mandal, before promised to bring this con-
Author R Raj Rao's latest of Sultan Mah- college. Bereaved together leads to a series of young women. Among them, the film's production. tribution of trust to more
book, 'Mahmud And Ayaz', is mud of Ghazni after his entire fam- journeys, including visits to four were from Thailand, two In 2022, Hooda visited and more people by por-
set to be launched today at and his Turkish ily dies in the 2015 Somnath in the footsteps of from Mizoram, and one from Rangari Bhavan and traying it in his film. It is a
the Crossword Bookstores in slave-cum-lover Hajj stampede, the great Sultan, and later to Chhattisgarh, the police learned about the rich tra- matter of great joy for me
Aundh. The author will en- Ayaz. Mahmud's life Kashmir, where they be- added. The accused have dition of Ganeshotsav dur- as the trustee as well as
gage in a conversation with According to takes an unexpect- come embroiled in a life of been identified as Shah Rukh ing the freedom struggle, its Bappa's devotees. I am very
Gaurav Kadam, The Free the book's de- ed turn when he en- petty and not-so-petty crime, Ahmad Chaudhary (27), a importance to the freedom thankful to Hooda for this,"
Press Journal's Pune Bu- scription, the counters a home- and almost militancy. The resident of Jadhav Nagar,
reau Chief, during the novel follows the less Hindu lad, the narrative comes full circle Mundhwa, and Surendra Ja-
launch event, scheduled for journey of Mah- illegitimate son of a as their wayward journey gannath Patil (32), a resident
6:30pm. mud Fakhar, a tamasha dancer. culminates in Mumbai, in of Sukhwani Royal Society,
Described as funny, sub- young, casually Mahmud hires him the neighbourhood of Mah- Vimannagar.
versive, provocative, and radicalised Muslim man as his domestic servant, con- mud's birth, even as one of They have been booked un-
wonderfully rude, 'Mahmud who, after failing to qualify verts him to Islam, renames them is afflicted by AIDS, der the Immoral Traffic (Pre-
And Ayaz' takes inspiration for the IAS, finds a him Ayaz, and begins an af- the description adds. vention) Act.

LAST WORD

Rajasthan Royals announce launch of cricket academy in city

ANI
Rajasthan Royals has an-
nounced the launch of an
academy in Pune, expanding
its footprint in the state of
Maharashtra and thereby so-
lidifying its commitment to
nurturing young cricketing
talent.
The inauguration took
place at the Prakash Tingre
Ground, Dhanori, on
Wednesday and was led by
Royals' Global Head of Acad-
emy Coaching Siddhartha
Lahiri, Rajasthan Royals'
Chief Business Officer Alok
Chitre, Maharashtra Cricket
Association COO Ajinkya
Joshi, JusCricket Academy
Mentor & Owner of MPL
franchise Solapur Royals
Kapil Baheti, and JusCricket
Academy Director and for-
mer Royals' player Parag
More.
The facilities at the
JusCricket Academy in
Pune will become the newest
addition to the growing Roy-
als' Academy ecosystem and
will be rebranded as the Ra-
jasthan Royals Academy,
Pune. The launch saw Lahiri
conduct a captivating coach-
es' session that offered in-
sights into the "Royals Way"
of playing cricket. Coaches
were also treated to a master-
class, learning about the be-
hind-the-scenes work that
goes on at the Royals, and
how it can help fast-track the
development of cricketing
talent.
The newest addition to the
Royals' Academy ecosystem
is equipped with a full-sized
cricket ground, along with
natural and Astroturf wick-
ets, ensuring availability
and access to the state-of-the-
art cricketing facility for
budding cricketers round
the year. The academy will
also aid in the development
of local internal coaches al-
ready serving at the facility,
and equip them with the
right knowledge and skill-set
that can be passed on to the
kids. Given the franchise's
expertise in grooming talent
and providing them with a
platform to perform--of
which Yashasvi Jaiswal,
Dhruv Jurel and Riyan
Parag are recent examples--a
major focus of the will be to
inculcate the renowned Roy-
als philosophy into the
coaching techniques being
imparted to the kids.
The talent enrolled at the
academy will also have the
opportunity to take part in
RRA-organised tournaments
around the world, get feed-
back from the Royals' expert
coaches and visit and get
trained at the franchise's
High-Performance Centre in
Nagpur.
Siddhartha Lahiri, Royals'
Global Head of Academy
Coaching, emphasised the
that is present not just in Ra-
jasthan but around the coun-
try. Through this association,
we are looking forward to ex-
panding the Royals coaching
philosophy, which aids in the
development of both the kids
and the coaches."
JusCricket Academy Di-
rector, Parag More, a former
Rajasthan Royals and Maha-
rashtra Ranji Trophy player,
seized the opportunity to ex-
press his gratitude to every-
one present at the event. He
extended heartfelt apprecia-
tion to the Rajasthan Royals
for placing their trust in his
capabilities and pledging to
uphold the highest
standards of coaching and
We are delighted to be expanding our presence in the state of mentorship.
Maharashtra with the launch of RR Academy Pune. Our Ajinkya Joshi, Chief Op-
objective through the academies is to create an ecosystem that erating Officer, Maharashtra
promotes the accelerated development of the young talent that is Cricket Association, hailed
present not just in Rajasthan but around the country the launch as a significant
boost to cricketing infra-
- Siddhartha Lahiri, structure in the region. He
Royals' Global Head of Academy Coaching lauded the collaborative ef-
forts of the Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals' unwaver- with the launch of RR Acade- and JusCricket Academy, ex-
ing commitment to grass- my Pune. Our objective pressing confidence that
roots cricket development, through the academies is to their partnership would ele-
stating, "We are delighted to create an ecosystem that pro- vate the standard of cricket
be expanding our presence in motes the accelerated devel- coaching and talent develop-
the state of Maharashtra opment of the young talent ment in Pune.
In 2022, Randeep Hooda visited Rangari
Bhavan and learned about the rich tradition
of Ganeshotsav during the freedom struggle,
its importance to the freedom movement,
and the history behind it
movement, and the history said Balan.
behind it. At that time, he "Ganeshotsav was start-
also promised Balan that all ed by Shrimant Bhausaheb
this history and its rele- Rangari to build up an
vance to the freedom strug- armed struggle against the
gle would be portrayed in British. The idol of this
his film, 'Swantatrya Veer Bappa is an inspiration, as
Savarkar', which is the it is seen killing the demon.
biopic of Vinayak Savarkar. Shrimant Bhausaheb Ran-
"Today that word gets ful- gari wanted to tell us
filled," Balan said after through this idol that the
watching the movie. demon at that time was
The Shrimant Bhausa- British. This idol gave
heb Rangari Ganpati Man- many revolutionaries the
dal holds a pivotal place in strength to fight against the
Indian history, known as British. After learning all
the first public Ganpati of this history, we decided to
united India. The mandal's use this event in our film,"
role in fostering unity and explained Hooda. The film
contributing to the freedom aims to educate audiences
struggle against the British about the historical signifi-
is highlighted in the film. cance of Ganeshotsav and
In the film, another look- inspire patriotism through
alike idol of Shrimant its portrayal of the
Bhausaheb Rangari Ganap- mandal's role in India's in-
ati is depicted, and through dependence movement.

187 auxiliary polling stations in Nanded
D eputy Collector Devendra Katke informed that 187
auxiliary polling stations have been approved by
the Election Commission for the Lok Sabha elections in
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, bringing the total
polling station count to 3,085.
Chavan faces acid test in Nanded
STAFF REPORTER
Former Maharashtra Chief
Minister Ashok Chavan, who
recently joined the BJP and
was elected to the Rajya Sab-
ha, faces an acid test on his
home turf Nanded. Although
he is not a BJP nominee this
time, Chavan must bank on
his clout to ensure victory for
the party candidate and sit-
ting MP Pratap Chikhalikar.
This is because Nanded is ex-
pected to witness a multi-cor-
nered contest with the entry
of the Congress and the Van-
chit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA).
The Congress has already
announced former legislator
Vasant Chavan as the party
candidate from Nanded and
a huge crowd joined the
party members as they filled
nomination for Chavan. The
BJP, however, hopes to retain
the seat with Chavan on its
side now.
The party is also confident
that Chavan, who had lost
the 2019 elections to Chikha-
likar, will use all his skills to
lure his traditional Congress
vote bank in support of the
BJP nominee. Chikhlikar
filled out his nomination
Opportunities for startups in
Marathwada: iDEX chief Das
STAFF REPORTER
Addressing a workshop, the
Project Director of iDEX,
Ranjan Shri Das highlighted
the need for reducing import
reliance in defence produc-
tion. He emphasised the role
of young entrepreneurs and
startups in contributing to In-
dia's defence sector through
the iDEX Challenge.
The workshop was jointly
organised by MAGIC,
Marathwada Auto Cluster,
CII, CMAI, MAASIA Laghu
Udyog Bharati, in collabora-
tion with iDEX, Ministry of
Defence, and Maharashtra
State Innovation Society.
Dhule RTO unveils MH18CD series
R egional Transport Office Dhule is launching the MH18CD
series for two-wheelers. To secure an appealing or special
number, applicants must submit their forms in the prescribed
format by today evening, as urged by the Assistant Regional
Transport Officer.
Motorcyclist
killed, two
injured in Yeola
STAFF REPORTER
Tragedy struck on the Yeola-
Manmad road in Dhanore
Shivara of tehsil as Deepak
Namdev Khule lost his life in
a hit-and-run incident involv-
ing an unidentified vehicle.
The unfortunate incident
occurred when Khule was
riding his two-wheeler, re-
sulting in a fatal collision that
claimed his life. Two college
students who were accompa-
nying him sustained injuries
in the accident and are cur-
rently receiving medical
treatment at a private hospi-
tal.
Upon receiving news of
the accident, the police swift-
ly responded to the scene in
an attempt to apprehend the
driver responsible for the in-
cident. However, the perpe-
trator managed to flee the
scene, leaving behind a trail
of devastation. Law enforce-
ment authorities have
launched a search operation
to locate the absconding driv-
er and hold them accountable
for their actions.
The incident has sent
shockwaves through the
community, highlighting the
dangers of reckless driving
and the devastating conse-
quences of hit-and-run acci-
dents. As investigations con-
tinue, authorities are urging
witnesses to come forward
with any information that
may aid in identifying and
apprehending the culprit.
form on Thursday.
After becoming a Rajya
Sabha member, Chavan slow-
ly but steadily launched an
exercise to get his close asso-
ciates and elected represen-
tatives into the BJP fold, and
thereby consolidate his grip
and the party's presence in
Nanded.
What has come to his aid is
the election of RSS worker
Ajit Gopchede from Nanded
to the Rajya Saha. Gopchede
can tap the RSS and BJP net-
Das mentioned that iDEX
has been offering challenges
to promote indigenous pro-
duction and has already allo-
cated orders worth 1800
crores to startups. Around 250
startups have joined iDEX to
date.
Staff crunch in NMC due to polls
STAFF REPORTER
The Nashik Municipal Cor-
poration (NMC) faces a criti-
cal challenge as it grapples
with the allocation of staff
for upcoming elections, leav-
ing essential services hang-
ing in the balance.
With responsibility for vi-
tal amenities like water,
roads, healthcare, education,
and street lighting, the NMC
finds itself stretched thin as
it juggles election duties with
service provision.
Despite a population of 2.2
lakh relying on the NMC for
crucial services, the corpora-
tion's workforce of 4,200 em-
ployees falls short of meeting
the city's needs. The alloca-
IPL 2024
One nabbed for betting
STAFF REPORTER
In a concerted effort to curb
illicit betting activities sur-
rounding IPL matches, a spe-
cialised police team has ap-
prehended a suspect engaged
in unlawful gambling. Identi-
fied as Mahendra Vaishnav, a
34-year-old resident of Tar-
wala Nagar, the suspect was
caught red-handed during the
Kolkata vs. Delhi IPL match.
A case has been lodged
against him at Gangapur po-
lice station.
The breakthrough came
following vigilant surveil-
lance by Police Naik Datta-
tray Chakor of the Special
`28 crore fraud case registered against builder
STAFF REPORTER
A construction
businessman stands
accused of perpetrating a
fraud amounting to `28
crore under the guise of
land development. Builder
Vijay Rathi, along with eight
accomplices including
women, has been implicated
in the elaborate scheme,
prompting a case of fraud to
works in addition to
Chavan's supporters from
Congress to ensure Chikhali-
akr's victory.
However, a section of BJP
workers feels that Chavan
will have to quickly acclima-
tise to the BJP's style of func-
tioning, especially by build-
ing his rapport with the
booth-level workers for an ef-
fective poll management
plan. Chavan will also have
to woo the voters from the
minority and backward
Prasad Kokil, Director of
MAGIC, provided insights
into ongoing programs
through MAGIC, stating that
a robust ecosystem has been
developed in Marathwada to
work in the defence sector.
MAGIC has taken responsi-
bility as an iDEX Partner In-
cubator to advance this initia-
tive.
During the event, detailed
problem statements were pre-
sented under Defence India
Startup Challenge (DISC) – 11
by Pankaj Singh from Ar-
mored Vehicles Corporation
Limited and Rajesh Pandey
from Hindustan Shipyard
Limited.
Despite a population of 2.2 lakh relying on the
NMC for crucial services, the corporation's
workforce of 4,200 employees falls short of
meeting the city's needs
Squad, who received intel in-
dicating betting activities
near the Krishi Nagar
jogging track. Acting swiftly
under the guidance of Senior
Police Inspector Jairam
Paigude, law enforcement of-
ficials set up a strategic trap.
On the night of Wednesday,
the suspect Mahendra was
apprehended while actively
participating in betting activ-
ities. Seizures amounting to
`16.50 lakh, including cash,
mobile phones, and a car,
were confiscated from him.
Investigations revealed
that Mahendra was betting
on IPL matches via his
mobile device.
Congress bastion since 1952
F urther, Chavan
and the BJP will
also have to pay
more attention to
avoid a division of
votes after the
entry of the Vanchit
Bahujan Aghadi. In
the 2014 elections
in Nanded, Chavan
weathered the
Narendra Modi
wave as he won by
securing 4,93,075
votes against BJP's
Digambar Patil's
4,11,620 votes.
classes so that Chikhaliakr's
margin increases.
Of the six Assembly seats
under the Nanded Lok Sabha
constituency, Nanded South
and Deglur are held by the
Congress, while the Bhokar
seat fell vacant after Ashok
Chavan resigned as the MLA.
On the other hand, Naigaon
and Mukhed are represented
by the BJP, while the Nanded
North seat is held by the Ek-
nath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
A close associate of
Water in percolation lakes
in city getting contaminated Sellers seek ban on Dear Lottery
STAFF REPORTER
The large-scale industriali-
sation in the Waluj industri-
al area has led to the contam-
ination of water in the per-
colation lakes. Before indus-
trialisation, all lakes and
ponds in the Waluj area pro-
vided drinkable water.
However, the factories
lack proper management of
the contaminated water re-
leased from them, which
ends up polluting the
streams and lakes in the
area.
Consequently, the water in
the Wadgaon percolation
tank has become contami-
nated. Primarily, the water
Water woes plague city
STAFF REPORTER
Residents of Panchavati,
Takalenagar, Krishnanagar,
Ganeshwadi, Sahjeevanna-
gar, Datenagar, along with
Borgad, Kishore Suryavanshi
Marg, and Pushpaknagar ar-
eas in Mhasrul are grappling
with severe water supply is-
sues, with water running at
alarmingly low pressure.
Complaints have flooded in
from residents who have ex-
perienced the frustration of
receiving water in mere
drops, only for the supply to
abruptly stop once the
electric motor in the area is
activated.
In many instances, resi-
be registered against them
at Sarkarwada police sta-
tion.
The Economic Offenses
Wing has been tasked with
delving into the intricacies
of the scam, which centres
on the purported develop-
ment of a one-hectare plot in
the Gole Colony area. The
victim, Vijay Bedmutha, al-
leges that Rathi and his as-
sociates enticed him into a
MARATHWADA
T raditionally, Nanded has been
a Congress bastion since 1952
as stalwarts like Shankarrao
Chavan, Vyankatesh Terodekar,
Ashok Chavan, and Bhaskarrao
Khatgaonkar represented the
party. The opposition also held
the Nanded seat -- in 1997,
when Peasants and Workers
Party leader Keshavrao Dhondge
won; in 1989 when Janata Dal
nominee Vyankatesh Kabde
secured victory; in 2004 when
BJP nominee D.B. Patil won; and
in 2019 when BJP candidate
Pratap Chikhalikar emerged as
the winner.
Ashok Chavan said, "The
real challenge here is to
bring the voters to the
polling stations, especially
when they seem to be divid-
ed over the protests seeking
Maratha and OBC reserva-
tions. Chavan along with
the BJP and Shiv Sena will
have to carefully approach
the voters from these com-
munities by assuring them
that the state government
and the Centre will protect
their respective quotas."
in percolation lakes in Ran-
jangaon Shenpunji, Jogesh-
wari, Bakwalnagar,
Wadadgaon, Ghanegaon, Sa-
japur, and nearby areas is
contaminated due to im-
proper management of
chemical-filled water re-
leased from factories.
Cattle in these areas have
died after drinking the con-
taminated water. Moreover,
groundwater sources, in-
cluding wells and borewells,
in these areas have been con-
taminated and are undrink-
able, allege residents. Simi-
larly, aquatic life, including
water plants, fishes, and oth-
er organisms, has been de-
stroyed.
tion of just 2,000 staff mem-
bers for election-related tasks
exacerbates the strain on re-
sources, rendering it impos-
sible to ensure uninterrupted
service delivery to the popu-
lace.
With nearly 50 percent of
its workforce diverted for
election work, the NMC an-
ticipates significant disrup-
tions to basic services. Resi-
dents may face challenges ac-
cessing clean water, well-
maintained roads, adequate
healthcare, education facili-
ties, and street lighting as the
municipality struggles to
cope with the shortfall in
staffing.
To address the staffing
shortfall, the NMC plans to
dents have reported that de-
spite the Municipal Corpora-
tion's previous efforts to con-
fiscate electric motors, the
practice continues unabated,
exacerbating the water sup-
ply crisis.
Consequently, those reliant
on electric motors for water
extraction are forced to en-
dure lengthy waits of fifteen
to twenty minutes to fill a sin-
gle bucket from their house-
hold taps. With the rainy sea-
son still months away, con-
cerns loom over the potential
exacerbation of the situation
in the upcoming months of
May and June.
As Nashik braces for an
impending water shortage
development agreement dat-
ing back to November 2008.
Over the years, a staggering
sum of `28.10 crore was ex-
tracted from Bedmutha un-
der false pretences, with
promises of land transfor-
mation left unfulfilled.
Despite repeated assur-
ances, the suspects failed to
initiate any development on
the designated plot, prompt-
ing Bedmutha to file a com-
CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
10000 officers, employees
deployed on election duties
STAFF REPORTER
The Hingoli District adminis-
tration has deployed as many
as 10,219 officers and employ-
ees for the smooth conduct of
the Lok Sabha election – 2024
in the Hingoli constituency.
Of which, 8,323 officers and
employees will be actually
working on the field while 896
officers and employees will be
kept reserved if any emer-
gency arises. All the con-
cerned government servants
have been informed about the
responsibilities to be shoul-
dered during the elections.
The process to submit
nomination forms will start
in Hingoli on March 28 and
the last date was April 4. Hin-
goli Lok Sabha constituency
includes Vasmat, Kalamnuri,
STAFF REPORTER
The Marathwada Lottery Sell-
ers Association has
demanded that the Dear Lot-
tery of the Future Gaming
Company should be banned
in the state.
The president of the associ-
ation Ganesh Mhaswale said
the Future Gaming Lottery
and Hotel Services Pvt Ltd
Company has given a lot of
election funds to the political
parties through the election
bonds and also evaded the tax-
es of the state government to
the tune of crores of rupees.
Such notices have been is-
sued by the lottery
directorate. The Future Gam-
ing Company has gained the
enlist employees from other
government offices to fulfil
election-related obligations.
However, the transition is ex-
pected to occur gradually,
with the initial phase involv-
ing the assignment of ten of-
ficers and 60 clerks to election
duties at the Collectorate.
As Nashik braces for the
impact of reduced municipal
staffing, citizens expressed
apprehension over the poten-
tial ramifications on their
daily lives. The inability to
access essential services reli-
ably raises concerns about
public health, safety, and
overall quality of life,
prompting calls for swift ac-
tion to mitigate the impend-
ing crisis.
with the Gangur dam nearing
depletion, conservation ef-
forts are imperative.
However, reports of wanton
water wastage continue to
surface, prompting calls for
decisive action from the Wa-
ter Supply Department of the
Municipal Corporation. Resi-
dents emphasise the impor-
tance of stringent measures
to curb water wastage and ad-
vocate for punitive action
against offenders.
Additionally, there are ap-
peals to halt water supply to
areas where taps are left run-
ning unattended, further ex-
acerbating the strain on al-
ready limited water re-
sources.
plaint with the Economic
Offenses Branch. Following
a preliminary investigation,
police have initiated legal
proceedings against the
nine accused individuals, in-
cluding Vijay Jagannath
Rathi, Kausalya Jagannath
Rathi, Sujata Mantri,
Archana Malani, Shruti
Ladda, Aditi Aggarwal,
Deepak Rathi, Vrinda Rathi,
and Sushma Kabra.
Hospitals reserved for
election employees in emergency
C
onsidering the severe summer and the Lok Sabha elections
ahead, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District Collector and
District Returning Officer Dilip Swami has directed the officers to
reserve hospitals for the employees deployed on election duties
in case of emergencies. Against the backdrop of the Lok Sabha
elections – 2024, Swami directed the hospital directors during a
review meeting held on Tuesday. Deputy District Returning
Officer Devendra Katke, Municipal Corporation Medical Officer
Dr Paras Mandlecha and other officers
were present. Swami said, there is a
possibility that the employees during
the election duties may face health
problems due to severe summer and it
is important that they should get quick
medical service. Such employees
should get the medical services at the nearest hospital at the
earliest. All the hospitals should cooperate with the
administration in this regard and keep the beds reserved in the
hospitals, he said.
Hingoli, Hadgaon, Kinwad cers and employees have been
and Umerkhed assembly con- deployed and 32 will be re-
stituencies. served. Similarly, 1630 officers
Each officer and employee and employees will be for
has been given important re- Kinwat and 432 reserved, 1329
sponsibility during the elec- for Hadgaon and 330
tion process. Similarly, they reserved, 1308 employees for
have been warned of punitive Vasmat and 260 reserved, 1380
action for negligence of their for Kalamnuri and 276 re-
duties. For the Umarkhed served and 1372 employees for
constituency, in all 1304 offi- Hingoli and 274 reserved.
contract of running the dear "Earlier, the same company
lottery in Maharashtra and duped the taxes of the state
robbed the state government government amounting to
and the common people. `380.84 crore by running the
lottery in the name Shri Man-
galmurti Marketing Pvt Ltd
between 2007 and 2011. How-
ever, the government has not
taken any steps to recover the
taxes. Today, this company is
collecting cores of rupees
The company cheated the from the common people in
people by showing advertise- the name of a lottery. It has
ments highlighting famous purchased the lottery rites
actors and sportspersons and from the Punjab government
breached the lottery rules. and is running the lottery in
Hence, the Dear lottery Maharashtra. Hence, the gov-
should be banned in the state. ernment should take stern
Maismale further said the steps to recover the pending
company is breaching the taxes and ban the Dear lottery
Central Government’s in Maharashtra," the associa-
Lottery Act, 2010. tion members demanded.
NASHIK
Cops unearth
illegal money
lending racket
STAFF REPORTER substantial evidence, in-
cluding 46 agreements, 107
The Cooperative Depart- cheques, 44 blank stamp pa-
ment, in collaboration with pers, and 3 diaries detailing
local authorities, recently loan payments and interest
conducted a raid on the res- recovery.
idence of two suspects in According to reports, the
Makhmalabad suspected suspects had distributed
of engaging in illegal mon- loans to approximately 125
ey lending activities. Dur- to 150 individuals, charging
ing the operation, authori- exorbitant interest rates of
ties seized a significant 5 percent per month. Addi-
amount of incriminating tionally, some victims had
evidence, including stamp their properties seized by
papers, blank cheques, loan the suspects due to non-
records, and interest recov- payment of debts. It is esti-
ery documents. mated that the illegal mon-
The suspects, identified ey lending operation had a
as Praveen Dnyaneshwar significant impact on the
Kakad (38) and Popat Vas- community, with wide-
ant Kakad (41), residents of spread repercussions.
Mankar Mala and Shanti- Both suspects have been
nagar respectively, were
found to be operating as pri-
vate moneylenders without
the necessary license since
charged under the Money
Lending Act, and an inves-
tigation into their proper-
ties is currently underway
2008. by the Mashrul police. Sen-
The crackdown on illegal ior Police Inspector Sub-
money lending comes in hash Dhavale emphasised
the wake of a complaint the seriousness of the
filed by Ramdas Mogul to crime and instructed the
the Niphad Assistant Coop- investigative team to con-
erative Registrar's office. duct a thorough inquiry. He
Acting on the complaint, a assured that appropriate
team led by auditor Ravin- action would be taken
dra Gunjal of the Yeola of- against the perpetrators
fice raided the suspects' res- once the investigation is
idence. The search yielded complete.
 Multiple price auctions back after 3 years as gilt demand robust

MONEY
MARKET WATCH
SENSEX 74,227.63 ▲ 350.81 Multiple-price auctions of government bonds have made participants said. On Friday, the government will raise Rs
NIFTY 22,514.65 ▲ 80.00 a comeback after a gap of nearly three years, a sign that 380 bln through a multiple-price auction of government
USD/INR 83.39 ▲ 0.14 the Reserve Bank of India is confident of strong demand bonds. In a multiple-price auction, successful bidders are
GOLD 70,050.00 ▲ 850.00 from both foreign investors and domestic players, market allotted stock for the price at which they have bid. MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
SILVER 81,700.00 ▲ 1,000.00

SENSEX AND NIFTY HIT RECORD Gold jumps `850 to hit fresh
BIZ BULLETIN
Alpex Solar gets `12 cr
contract under PM-KUSUM all-time high of `70K/10 gm
Renewable energy firm Alpex Solar on
Thursday said it has bagged an order
worth around Rs 12 crore under PM-
KUSIM scheme to install 500 solar water
pumps in Jharkhand. The order has been
awarded by Jharkhand Renewable Energy
HIGHS, ALL EYES ON RBI POLICY
On March 7, Sensex recorded its previous peak of 74,119.39. Nifty scaled its previous high of 22,493.55
PTI / New Delhi

Gold prices surged by Rs 850 to

Development Agency (JREDA), a state
government agency, Alpex Solar said.
D-Mart's Q4 revenue up
nearly 20% to `12,393 cr
Avenue Supermarts Ltd, which owns and
operates retail chain D-Mart, has
reported a 19.89 per cent increase in its
standalone revenue from operations to
Rs 12,393.46 crore for the fourth quarter
ended on March 31, 2024. The company
had revenue from operations of Rs
10,337.12 crore in the January-March
quarter a year ago, Avenue Supermarts
said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.
IndusInd Bank records
18% loan growth in Q4
Private sector lender IndusInd Bank on
Thursday said it has posted an 18 per
cent growth in advances at Rs 3,42,857
crore during the March quarter. Net
advances stood at Rs 2,89,924 crore at
the end of the fourth quarter of the last
financial year, IndusInd Bank said in a
regulatory filing. The bank's deposits
also rose 14 per cent to Rs 3,84,789
crore in the quarter under review, from
Rs 3,36,438 crore in the same period a
year ago, it said.
Bandhan Bank's
advances rise 17.8%
Bandhan Bank on Thursday said its loans
and advances have clocked Rs 1.28 lakh
crore at the end of the fourth quarter of
the 2023-24 fiscal, registering a 17.8 per
cent growth year-on-year. The lender
said the same was Rs 1.09 lakh crore by
the end of March 31, 2023. The bank
said, in a regulatory filing, that the total
deposits during the March quarter of
FY'24 stood at Rs 1.35 lakh crore with a
25.1 per cent rise year-on-year.
ESAF SFB's gross loans up
33.7% on yr as on Mar 31
ESAF Small Finance Bank Ltd's gross
advances were 188.78 bln rupees as on
Mar 31, up 33.7% on year, according to
the provisional figures released by the
bank today. Loans to the micro segment
rose 29.31% on year to 129.83 bln
rupees in the March quarter, and the
retail and other loans were up 44.6% on
year at 58.95 bln rupees. Total deposits
of the bank rose 35.5% on year to
198.68 bln rupees.
Prestige Group buys 21
acres in Bengaluru
Realty firm Prestige Group has acquired
21 acres of land in Whitefield,
Bengaluru, for Rs 450 crore to develop a
housing project and is expecting a
revenue of Rs 4,500 crore over the next
four years. In a regulatory filing on
Thursday, Prestige Estates Projects Ltd
said the acquired land will be planned
for residential development comprising
about 1,800 apartments.
Indian Hotels ties up with
Merlin for Ibiza resort
Hospitality major Indian Hotels Company
Ltd (IHCL) has partnered with Kolkata-
reach a new peak of Rs 70,050 per
10 grams on Thursday on strong
global cues, according to HDFC
PTI / Mumbai Bajaj Finserve were the other gainers. Securities.
In contrast, SBI, Bharti Airtel, JSW Steel, This is the second straight ses-
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty PowerGrid, ITC and Reliance closed the trad- sion that precious metal prices
rebounded sharply to hit record fresh highs on
Thursday, propped up by buying in IT, con-
ing with losses.
BSE LargeCap gained 0.34 per cent and
have hit all-time high levels. In the
previous trade, the precious metal
record after Federal Reserve
Chair Jerome Powell confirmed
sumer durables and financial stocks amid ex- smallcap rose 0.54 per cent, while the midcap had settled at Rs 69,200 per 10 that an interest rate cut would
pectations of a robust corporate performance. index lost marginally by 0.11 per cent. grams. likely be appropriate "at some
Besides, investors lapped up select banking The breadth of the market displayed a posi- Silver prices also zoomed Rs point this year". Traders focus on
stocks expecting a status quo in the interest tive trend within a narrow trading range, with 1,000 to hit record Rs 81,700 per kg. rate cuts rather than the timing
rate decision of the RBI's monetary policy attention focused on the RBI's upcoming mon- In the previous session, it had fin- of the first rate cut, Gandhi said.
committee, analysts said. The etary policy announcement on Friday. "Expec- ished at Rs 80,700 per kg. "Gold continues to hover
six-member rate-setting panel, which began tations lean towards the likely status quo in "Spot gold prices (24 carats) in around its all-time high levels on
its deliberation on Wednesday, will announce the repo rate due to prevalent inflation wor- the Delhi markets are trading at the back of weakness in the dollar
the decision on Friday. ries. Rs 70,050 per 10 grams, up by Rs amid uncertainty over US
The 30-share BSE Sensex surged 350.81 Both indices had ended lower in the previ- "Meanwhile, the broader market has shown 850, amid a bullish trend in the interest rate cuts, while increased
points or 0.47 per cent to settle at its lifetime ous two sessions. On March 7, Sensex resilience in select sectors like banks in antic- overseas markets," Saumil Gand- safe-haven demand also aided
high of 74,227.63. During the day, the index os- recorded its previous peak of 74,119.39. Nifty ipation of decent Q4 results and exports based hi, Senior Analyst of Commodi- prices. Additionally, silver prices
cillated between the high of 74,501.73 and the
low of 73,485.12.
scaled its previous high of 22,493.55.
Among the Sensex constituents, 20 stocks
on composite PMI data reflecting strong busi-
ness conditions," Vinod Nair, Head of Re-
ties at HDFC Securities, said.
In the international markets,
too marked an all-time high on the
domestic front, amidst a sharp
The broader NSE Nifty also hit its fresh ended the session in green with HDFC Bank, search, Geojit Financial Services, said. spot gold at COMEX was trading rally in industrial metals,"
peak of 22,514.65, gaining 80 points or 0.36 per Titan, Tech Mahindra, and Asian Paints being Elsewhere in Asia, Seoul and Tokyo ended at USD 2,297 per ounce, up by USD Navneet Damani, Senior VP of
cent. As many as 31 components of the 50- the major gainers. with gains, while Hong Kong and Shanghai 22 from the previous close. Commodity Research at Motilal
share benchmark ended with gains. TCS, Maruti, Kotak Mahindra Bank and were closed for a holiday. Gold touched yet another Oswal Financial Services, said.
NSE awaits Sebi's
green signal to
RBI defers implementing FX India’s services sector growth
begin IPO process derivatives rules to May 3 hits 13-and-a-half-yr high in Mar
PTI / Mumbai PTI / Mumbai
PTI / New Delhi
The National Stock Exchange
(NSE) is awaiting approval from
The Reserve Bank on Thursday
deferred implementation of its India's services sector witnessed one of the strongest
capital markets regulator Sebi to directions on exchange traded growth rates in over 13-and-a-half years in March
kickstart the initial public offer- currency derivatives (ETCD) on the back of strong demand that spurred sales
ing process, its MD and CEO linked to rupee by a month to and business activity, a monthly survey said on
Ashishkumar Chauhan said on May 3 in view of feedbacks re- Thursday.
Thursday. ceived from stakeholders. The seasonally adjusted HSBC India Services
The NSE's listing plans have A circular issued on January square off their existing in cur- Business Activity Index rose from 60.6 in February
been on the backburner amid a 5 on 'Risk Management and In- rency derivatives by April 4, to 61.2 in March, one of the strongest expansions in
Sebi probe against the exchange ter-Bank Dealings -- Hedging of 2024, before market closure. total sales and business activity in close to 14 years.
and some of its top officials. It Foreign Exchange Risk' was ear- Regarding the circular, the In the Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) parl-
was alleged that the exchange lier scheduled to come into effect RBI said it sets out the Master ance, a print above 50 means expansion, while a
misused its co-location facility from Friday (April 5, 2024). Direction and reiterates the reg- score below 50 denotes contraction.
and gave preferential access to In a statement, the Reserve ulatory framework for partici- The HSBC India Services PMI is compiled by S&P
certain trading members. Bank of India (RBI) also said the pation in ETCDs involving the Global from responses to questionnaires sent to a
"We will submit a revised Draft
Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP)
regulatory framework
ETCDs has remained consistent
for Indian rupee (INR) without any
change.
panel of around 400 service sector companies.
"India's services PMI rose in March, following a in new order intakes during March. The rate of
as and when we get an approval over the years and that "there is "As hitherto, participants small dip in February, on the back of strong demand growth was one of the best seen since June 2010.
from Sebi," Chauhan said here. no change in the RBI's policy ap- with a valid underlying con- that spurred sales and business activity. Service New export business rose at the fastest rate since
Its rival BSE (formerly proach". tracted exposure can continue to providers increased hiring at the fastest pace since the series started in September 2014. Survey partici-
Bombay Stock Exchange) The statement comes in view enter into ETCDs involving the August 2023 in order to expand production capacity," pants reported gains from Africa, Asia, Australia,
launched its initial public offer- of some concerns expressed INR up to a limit of USD 100 mil- said Ines Lam, Economist at HSBC. Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Services
ing (IPO) in 2017 and is currently about participation in the ETCD lion without having to produce The upturn was largely attributed to healthy de- companies indicated that the substantial upturn in
listed on both exchanges. Notably, market in the light of the Janu- documentary evidence of the mand conditions, efficiency gains, and positive sales new business volumes added pressure on their ca-
Chauhan was the CEO of BSE ary circular. underlying exposure," the RBI developments, the survey said. pacities. Accordingly, service providers recruited ad-
during its listing. Certain brokers had clients to said. Companies signalled a substantial improvement ditional staff in March.
‘Govt pulls all stops to ensure uninterrupted power supply this summer’ CBDT enables ITR
PTI / New Delhi We are mobilising our ing that thermal power plants - based. So I think we will meet the Meteorological Department filing for FY24;
The government has asked all entire capacity whether it is the backbone of India's electricity
supply - have enough coal stocks
demand." The Ministry of Power
has projected a peak power de-
(IMD) has forecast that India is
set to experience extreme heat 23,000 returns
thermal, hydro, renewable
filed in 4 days
power plants to operate at full ca- to last through June and has mand of 260 gigawatt (GW) this during the April-June period,
pacity as it pulls all the stops to asked all units to offer their un- summer (April-June), higher with the central and western
meet peak electricity demand in
or gas-based, said Power contracted or surplus power in than the record of 243 GW in Sep- peninsular parts expected to face
the searing summer season, Pow- Minister R K Singh power exchanges. tember last year. the worst impact. Besides, above- PTI / New Delhi
er Minister R K Singh said on In an interview with PTI, The ministry had projected normal heatwave days are likely
Thursday. Singh exuded confidence of meet- 229GW of peak power demand over most parts of the plains dur- The Income Tax department on
With the meteorological de- to quickly start operating and ing peak summer demand with- last year, but due to unseasonal ing summer. 10 to 20 days of heat Thursday said ITRs 1, 2, 4 and 6
partment forecasting a harsh and harness surplus power available out any disruption. rains the all-time high demand waves are expected in different have been made available on e-fil-
long summer, the government at generating stations dedicated He said, "We are mobilising our was recorded at 243GW in Sep- parts of the country against a ing portal from April 1, 2024, and
has asked all plants that are shut to specific users. entire capacity whether it is ther- tember 2023. normal of 4 to 8 days, as per IMD about 23,000 returns have already
for maintenance or other reasons, The government is also ensur- mal, hydro, renewable or gas- However, this year the Indian projections earlier this week. been filed for the 2023-24 fiscal
year.
This is for the first time in
Securitisation volume growth slows Senior level job DELOITTE REPORT recent years that the I-T

based realtor Merlin Group to rebrand
the two-decade-old Ibiza resort in West
Bengal's South 24 Parganas district.
Merlin will invest Rs 60 crore to upgrade
and refurbish the infrastructure over the
next 14-15 months, said Merlin Group
chairman Sushil Mohta on Thursday.
Ola Electric posts all-time
high registrations in Mar
Ola Electric has announced that it
recorded over 53,000 registrations (as
per VAHAN Portal) in the month of
March, posting its highest ever monthly
volumes yet again for the fifth
consecutive month. The company
achieved a Y-o-Y growth of 115% in FY24
over FY23 with 328,785 units registered
as against 1,52,741 units in FY23.
Hisense elevates its air
conditioner portfolio
Hisense, a global leader in consumer
electronics and home appliances,
strengthens its India air conditioner
product portfolio with the announcement
of the launch of CoolingExpert PRO AC,
bringing advanced technology to
redefine home cooling solutions for
Indian households.
KDM introduces Skill
to 4% in FY24 on HDFC merger: Icra roles to see avg GenAI and GCCs to help boost
PTI / Mumbai
The overall securitisation volume
growth slowed to 4 per cent in
FY24 to Rs 1.88 lakh crore due to
the impact of the HDFC twins
merger, domestic rating agency
Icra said on Thursday. In FY23,
the securitisation volume had
grown by 33 per cent to Rs 1.80
lakh crore, and mortgage major
HDFC was the biggest originator.
In a report, the agency said it
expects the volume of securitisa-
tion - where a lender typically
transfers the future receivables
on a loan asset against upfront
payment - to cross Rs 2 lakh crore
in FY25.
"The increasing share of co-
lending by NBFCs (non-bank fi-
nance companies) and HFCs
(housing finance companies)
would challenge the growth in the
securitisation market, though at
this juncture we expect an in-
crease in both forms of funding,"
Icra's group head for structured fi-
nance ratings Abhishek Dafria
said.
He added that if HDFC is ex-
20% pay hike Indian economy in coming yrs
cluded, the securitisation
volumes grew 25 per cent during
the fiscal year.
"The increase in volumes was
driven by both existing large orig-
inators, who securitised higher
volumes during the year, and new
originators. We witnessed a sharp
increase in securitisation by
small finance banks as well as ini-
tial steps taken by a few private
sector banks in this space to sup-
port their portfolio growth, given
the recent challenges in deposit
growth rates," he said.
The share of pass-through cer-
tificates (PTCs) rose to 57 per cent
of the market for FY24 against 40
per cent observed in the past cou-
ple of years, mainly due to the exit
of HDFC, which sold mortgage
loans through the direct assign-
ment (DA) route.
PTI / New Delhi
Salary hike in senior level job roles is
expected to reach an average of 20
per cent this year, as nurturing talent
and fostering innovation remains a
key focus area for companies amid
the country's buoyant economic
conditions, says a report.
According to the Michael Page
India Salary Guide 2024, there is a
resurgence in hiring within
traditional industries, particularly
evident in the continued high
demand for manufacturing and
operations roles.
Additionally, there's a notable
surge in the need for professionals
skilled in data analytics, generative
AI, and machine learning across
various sectors.
The annual guidance report covers
the key sectors of BFSI, engineering
& manufacturing, finance &
accounting, healthcare &
lifesciences, human resources, legal,
compliance, procurement & supply
chain, property & construction, sales
& marketing, and technology.
PTI / New Delhi
India could see a substantial
growth of USD 359-438 billion in
GDP through adoption of GenAI
and the country's Global Capabili-
ty Centres (GCC) market would
exceed USD 100 billion by 2030, De-
loitte India said in a report.
The "Technology Trends 2024
report: India perspective" said
GCCs are taking the lead in 2024,
showcasing India's growing
prowess in catering to interna-
tional technology needs.
"With over 1,600 GCCs, India's
GCC market is growing and creat-
ing its dominance globally. It is es-
timated that by 2030, the Indian
GCC market would exceed USD
100 billion, with 2,500 GCCs across
the country employing over 4.5
million people," it said.
The report pointed out a close
connection between technological
adoption and accelerated econom-
ic growth. Improved accessibility
and government initiatives, it
said, have led to a significant
surge in digital technology adop-
tion. It said advanced technologies
offer avenues for growth and effi-
ciency.
"To drive technological ad-
vancement and maximise service
transformation, organisations
must invest in using GenAI effec-
tively, in line with changing mar-
ket dynamics," the global consul-
tancy firm said. Marking GenAI
as essential for organisational
competitiveness, Deloitte said In-
dian companies are diversifying
their services by integrating AI-
driven analytics, leading to a re-
markable 2.7X growth in AI-relat-
ed initiatives compared with the
previous year.
dept has enabled taxpayers
to file their I-T Returns on
the first day of the new FY
This is for the first time in re-
cent years that the Income Tax de-
partment has enabled taxpayers
to file their I-T Returns on the first
day of the new financial year and,
is a step towards ease of compli-
ance and seamless taxpayer serv-
ices.
ITR Form 1 (Sahaj) and ITR
Form 4 (Sugam) are simpler
forms that cater to a large number
of small and medium taxpayers.
ITR-2 is filed by people having in-
come from residential property).
In a statement, the Central
Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT)
said it has facilitated taxpayers to
file their Income Tax Returns
(ITRs) for the 2024-25 Assessment
Year (relevant to Financial Year
2023-24) from April 1, 2024.
"The ITRs -- i.e. ITR-1, ITR-2 and
ITR-4 -- commonly used by taxpay-
ers are available on the e-filing
portal from April 1, 2024 onwards
for taxpayers to file their returns.
Companies will also be able to file
their ITRs through ITR-6 from
April 1 onwards," the CBDT said.

Development Program ?????????????????????????????

To enhance the skills of its channel
partners, leading lifestyle & mobile
accessories brand KDM has launched the
KDM MBA—Master of Business
Attitude—a highly innovative skill
development program that transcends
traditional educational models. The
primary objective of the KDM MBA is to
enrich and update the interpersonal and
communication skills of individuals.
Zeno Health acquires
Tablt Pharmacy
Zeno Health, one of India’s leading omni
channel platform for quality and
affordable generic medicines, proudly
announced its acquisition of Kolkata-
based startup Tablt Pharmacy. As part of
its expansion plans, Zeno Health along
with Tablt will be strengthening its reach
in the states of West Bengal, Odisha,
Bihar and Jharkhand. —Agencies
CRISIL REPORT "ROTI RICE RATE"
Veg thali gets dearer by 7% in Mar on onion, tomato price surge MPC
PTI / New Delhi
The cost of a vegetarian thali be-
came dearer by 7 per cent in
March primarily due to the rise
in onion, tomato, and potato
prices, an arm of domestic rating
agency Crisil said on Thursday.
A cool down in poultry prices
led to a 7 per cent decline in non-
vegetarian thali, Crisil Market
Intelligence and Analysis said in
its monthly "Roti Rice Rate"
report.
The cost of a vegetable thali --
comprising roti, vegetables
(onions, tomatoes and potatoes),
rice, dal, curd and salad -- in-
creased to Rs 27.3 per plate in
Govt bonds surge; focus on
meet outcome on Friday
A cool down in poultry
March from Rs 25.5 in the year-
ago period, but was cheaper than
Rs 27.4 in February 2024, it said.
"The cost of the veg thali in-
creased due to a surge of 40 per
cent, 36 per cent and 22 per cent
on-year in prices of onion, tomato
and potato, respectively, due to
lower arrivals of onion and
potato and low base of last fiscal
for tomatoes," the report said.
The report also noted that due
to lower arrivals, prices of rice in-
creased 14 per cent and pulses by
22 per cent when compared to the
year-ago period.
In the case of non-veg thali, in
which only dal gets replaced by
chicken, the price declined to Rs
54.9 as against Rs 59.2 in the year-
ago period, but was higher when
compared with Rs 54 per thali in
preceding February.
A 16 per cent decline in the cost
of the broiler prices, which has a
50 per cent weight in the overall
price, was the primary reason for
prices led to a 7% decline
in non-vegetarian thali
the decline in the cost of non-veg-
etarian thali on a year-on-year ba-
sis, it said.
When compared with
February, the prices of broiler in-
creased 5 per cent, the report said.
"The average cost of preparing
a thali at home is calculated based
on input prices prevailing in
north, south, east, and west India.
The monthly change reflects the
impact on the common man's
expenditure, the report said.
INFORMIST / Mumbai
Prices of government bonds end-
ed higher on Thursday as traders
stepped up purchases because
they found the current levels lu-
crative, dealers said. The market
view is that the yield on the 10-
year benchmark bond won't rise
above 7.12-7.15%. However, the
gains were capped as foreign
portfolio investors trimmed their
bond holdings. Market partici-
pants are also focussing on the
outcome of the Monetary Policy
Committee's three-day meeting
on Friday.
The 10-year benchmark 7.18%,
2033 bond closed at 100.57 rupees,
or 7.09% yield, compared with
100.51 rupees, or 7.10% yield, on
Wednesday.
"The day was quite boring to-
day as everyone is waiting for the
MPC meeting outcome," a dealer
at a private bank said. "Prices
were just moving 3-4 paise on ei-
ther side. It was like a mismatch
between foreign investors and
doestic players."
The Reserve Bank of India's
rate-setting committee is widely
expected to leave the policy repo
rate unchanged at 6.50% for the
seventh consecutive meeting, ac-
cording to an Informist poll.
 MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024 MONEY
India says up to Tesla to lay
BIZ BULLETIN
Capital Group sells
Gold Fever: Analysing the
Aavas shares for `143 cr surge in yellow metal prices
down EV plant investment plans
Financial Services company Capital
Group on Thursday sold shares of Aavas BY TEJI MANDI
Financiers for Rs 143 crore through open

market transactions. US-based Capital
Group through its affiliate -- Smallcap
World Fund, Inc -- offloaded the shares
of Aavas Financiers in two tranches on
the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and
the BSE.
HDFC Bank sells 3% stake
in Indraprastha Medical
HDFC Bank on Thursday said it has sold
a 3.03 per cent stake in Indraprastha
Medical Corporation Ltd for Rs 55.46
crore through the secondary market
route on NSE. Incorporated in 1988,
Indraprastha Medical Corporation Ltd is
promoted by the Delhi government and
Apollo Hospitals.
Allianz Partners
launches ops in GIFT City
France-based Allianz Partners on
Thursday announced the launch of its
IFSC Insurance Office (IIO Reinsurance
Branch) in International Financial
Services Centre (IFSC) GIFT City,
Gandhinagar. The company has become
the first foreign reinsurer to open its
office at IFSC, marking a significant
milestone in its strategic expansion
efforts in India.
FPJ BUREAU / Mumbai
India’s industry secretary said
the ball is now in Tesla Inc.’s
court to lay down its investment
plans for the South Asian nation
after the government cut import
duty on electric vehicles,
Bloomberg reported.
The industry department last
month released a comprehensive
policy for boosting EV manufac-
turing in the world’s most-popu-
lous nation. Following that move,
it’s up to Elon Musk’s carmaker
to “make the announcements of
their manufacturing plans,” Ra-
jesh Kumar Singh, secretary of
department for promotion of in-
dustry and internal trade, told
Bloomberg in an interview on
Thursday. “We will help them out
in terms of giving them the con-
tacts at state level,” Singh said.
“There have been contacts made
at that level with state govern-
ments and the central govern-
ment. VinFast has already an-
nounced and we expect a few oth-
ers."
Tesla is planning to send a
team of people to scout for loca-
tions in India this month for a
proposed $2 billion to $3 billion
electric car plant, the Financial
Times reported earlier this week.
Tesla would also look to increase
purchases of auto parts from the
nation to as much as $15 billion,
Bloomberg reported in Novem-
ber. Musk’s carmaker has for
years been been making a case for
cutting import taxes before it
commits to any significant invest-
ment in one of the world’s biggest
automobile markets.
R
ecently, there has been a rapid
surge in gold prices, reaching
record highs. This has captured
Tesla begins making cars in Germany for the attention of various investors
who are contemplating whether
export to India this year, say sources they should invest their money in
Tesla has begun production of right-hand drive cars at its plant in gold. Let's delve deeper and
Germany for export to India later this year, three people aware of the
company's plans told Reuters, as it moves ahead with a possible entry into
understand why gold prices are
rising and whether it is the right
the world's third-largest car market, Reuters reported. India last month investment for you.
slashed the import tax rate on certain electric vehicles if their makers
invest at least $500 million in the country and start production there What's Happening?
within three years. The move is a win for Tesla, which had lobbied for According to Reuters, the Indian
months for lower taxes. “The right-hand drive cars which will be allocated gold market is currently in an
to India, they have started building them,” one of the people said, with unusual situation. On one hand,
some cars due to be shipped to India by the end of the year. gold futures prices are soaring,
while on the other hand, the
Telangana govt in talks with Tesla demand for gold in the country is
declining. Recently, gold futures
to set up electric car plant reached record highs, crossing Rs.
The Telangana government is holding discussions with Tesla by putting in 69,487 per 10 grams. It is
all efforts to establish their plant in the state, Industries Minister D Sridhar noteworthy that gold prices have
Babu said on Thursday. In a message on X Sridhar Babu said since increased by nearly 10% so far this
December 2023 the state government has been actively focusing on major year.
investment opportunities by global giants, and as part of its focus, Tesla's
planned investment initiatives in India are also being tracked. "We have Why Are Gold Prices Rising?
been studying and tracking Tesla's planned investment initiatives in India. Several factors contribute to the
We have been making all out efforts to bring Tesla to Telangana for some increase in gold prices, including:
time... Our team is continuing the dialogue and discussions with Tesla by Expectations of lower interest
putting in all efforts for Tesla to establish their plant in Telangana," he said. rates: The U.S. Federal Reserve
signalling interest rate cuts are an
indication. This makes investment in
Historical Gold Performance
You can imagine that in 1964, the
price of 10 grams of 24-carat gold
was approximately Rs. 64, and as of
March 2, 2024, the price of 10
grams of 24-carat gold was
approximately Rs. 68,500. This
represents a return of over
100,000% from 1964 to 2024.
What Does it Mean
for Investors?
While gold prices are steadily rising,
if strong figures come from the U.S.
economy in the coming days, gold
prices could see a decline.
Therefore, investors should remain
cautious and decide on gold
investment while keeping an eye on
market trends.
Before deciding to invest in gold,
you should consider your investment
goals and risk tolerance.
What’s Next?

Nazara arm to acquire

Ultimate Teen Patti IP
Gaming company Nazara Technologies
will acquire intellectual property rights
pertaining to Ultimate Teen Patti from
Games24x7 for Rs 10 crore, the
company said in a regulatory filing.
Launched in 2015, Ultimate Teen Patti
(UTP) is a free casual card game for
entertainment purposes only and does
not offer any real money to the players.
When the going gets tough,
Mahindra gets going
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand
Mahindra on Thursday hailed teams in
his Group companies for charting a new
course and getting them back on
customary growth trajectory. Mahindra
and Mahindra's stock closed at Rs 2,008
on Thursday. "In December 2019, when
the share price had fallen to around Rs
500, I vividly recall that at our annual
leadership conference (M10) held in
Mumbai, the then CFO had issued a
clarion call for our stock to be "2000 by
2022," Anand Mahindra posted on X
platform.
Hero MotoCorp
gets `605 crore
demand notice
from I-T dept
DHARMESH THAKKAR / Mumbai
Leading two wheeler maker
Hero MotoCorp Ltd has been is-
sued tax demand amounting to a
total of Rs 605 crore, inclusive of
interest for six assessment years
by the Income Tax department.
The tax demand comprises Rs
308.65 crore in taxes and Rs
296.22 crore in interest, stem-
ming from certain
disallowances pertaining to the
assessment years from FY14 to
FY18 and FY20 filed by Hero Mo-
toCorp.
“Hero MotoCorp has been giv-
en assessment orders and de-
mand notices pertaining to six
assessment years for Rs 605
crore," confirmed a senior In-
come Tax official.
HDFC Bank loan book crosses `25L cr in Q4
PTI / New Delhi
Private sector lender HDFC Bank
on Thursday said its loan book
crossed Rs 25 lakh crore in the
fourth quarter ended March 2024.
The bank's gross advances ag-
gregated to Rs 25.08 lakh crore as
of March 31, 2024, a growth of
55.4 per cent over Rs 16.14 lakh
crore as of March 31, 2023, HDFC
Bank said in a regulatory filing.
The figures for the period end-
ed March 31, 2024 include the op-
erations of erstwhile HDFC Ltd,
which amalgamated with HDFC
Bank on July 1, 2023 and hence
are not comparable with those of
the corresponding period of the
previous year, it said.
Pilots' unions flag work culture Vedanta to raise `2,500 cr in NCDs
concerns at Tata Group airlines
However, the loan growth on
quarter-to-quarter basis in-
creased by marginal 1.6 per cent
as compared to Rs 24.69 lakh
crore at the end of December 31,
2023. This growth is comparable.
As per the bank's internal
business classification, domestic
retail loans grew around 109 per
Vedanta begins
cent over March 31, 2023 and
around 3.7 per cent over Decem-
ber 31, 2023.
The bank's commercial and ru-
ral banking loans grew 24.6 per
cent over March 31, 2023 and
around 4.2 per cent over Decem-
ber 31, 2023, it said The corpo-
rate and other wholesale loans,
excluding non-individual loans
of the erstwhile HDFC Ltd, grew
around 4.1 per cent over March
31, 2023. The bank's deposits ag-
gregated to Rs 23.8 lakh crore as
of March 31, 2024, a year-on-year
growth of around 26.4 per cent
over Rs 18.83 lakh crore and of
around 7.5 per cent over Rs 22.10
lakh crore as of December 31,
2023.
IANS / New Delhi
gold attractive. According to the
CME Group's FedWatch Tool, traders
are currently expecting a 69%
probability of a rate cut by the Fed
in June, while this probability was
64% before Friday's data.
Geopolitical tensions: Geopolitical
tensions in regions like the Middle
East and Ukraine are prompting
investors to seek safe investments.
Gold is traditionally considered a
safe investment, so investors are
attracted to it.
Strong demand from China:
Continuous buying of gold by banks
and common people in China is also
driving the price up. China is one of
the world's largest economies, and
an increase in demand from there is
a positive sign for gold.
Teji Mandi (TM Investment Technologies Pvt Ltd) is a SEBI registered Research
Analyst (RA). Information in this article should not be construed as
investment advice. Please visit www.tejimandi.com to know more.
According to the Economic Times,
analysts believe that after a nearly
10% surge in the past five weeks,
some profit-taking could be seen.
However, the trend is still positive as
the basic position of gold has
become positive. Therefore, gold
prices could see a surge from Rs.
70,550 to Rs. 72,000 per 10 grams
in the near future. One reason for
this is that many central banks are
buying gold to protect against rising
inflation. Additionally, jewellers in
Mumbai are expecting a surge in
gold sales during auspicious
occasions like Akshaya Tritiya at the
beginning of the upcoming month.
In such a scenario, increasing
demand could also support gold
prices.

Vedanta Limited is seeking to

SingleInterface raises
$30 mn in funding
Software-as-a-service firm
SingleInterface has raised USD 30
million (about Rs 250 crore) in a funding
round led by Singapore-based Asia
Partners, the company said on Thursday.
This is the first-ever external fundraising
round of SingleInterface, according to a
statement. The funding round also
witnessed the participation of PayPal.
In March 2022 Income Tax de-
partment had carried out raids
at Hero Motocorp premises in
Delhi-NCR and conducted
search operations across 25
premises including offices and
residence of Chairman and CEO
Pawan Munjal as part of an in-
vestigation into alleged tax eva-
sion. The Central Board of Di-
rect Taxes (CBDT) had in a state-
ment alleged illegal business ex-
penses of over Rs 800 crore.
PTI / Mumbai
Two pilots' groupings on Thurs-
day said the problems raised by
Vistara pilots are not isolated but
indicative of systemic issues
across Tata Group aviation enti-
ties.
In a detailed letter to Tata
Group Chairman N Chan-
drasekaran, the Indian Commer-
cial Pilots' Association (ICPI) and
the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG)
urged the group to engage in a
constructive dialogue with the
some routes due to cancellations,
according to sources and travel
industry executives.
A day after Vistara CEO Vinod
Kannan apologised to pilots
about the issues and assured
raise up to Rs 2,500 crore in non-
convertible debentures.
"The duly authorised Commit-
tee of Directors at its meeting
held on Thursday considered and
approved for raising, on a private
placement basis, up to 2,50,000
nos. Senior, Secured, Rated, List-
ed, Redeemable, Non-Convertible
Debentures (NCDs) of face value
Rs 1,00,000 each aggregating up to
Rs 2,500 crore in one or more
tranche(s)," the company said.
Vedanta Aluminium, India's
largest producer of the metal, an-
quarter of FY24, over the year-
ago period.
The company's aluminium
production was 5,74,000 tonne in
the corresponding quarter of
FY23, Vedanta said in a filing to
BSE.
The company's alumina pro-
mining in Goa's
Bicholim block
Mining in Goa resumed after a
gap of six years, with mining
major Vedanta on Thursday
announcing that it has
commenced operations at
Bicholim Mineral Block in the
state.
Bicholim Mineral Block is the
first auctioned mine to become
operational since 2018 when
the Supreme Court imposed a
blanket ban on mining in the

GE Aerospace to invest `240 cr pilot community.

Tata Group has four airline
ventures -- Air India, Air India
them of taking steps to resolve
them, the airline saw cancella-
tions of around 20 flights.
nounced ongoing expansion ef-
forts to be among the top three
global players with 3 million
duction at Lanjigarh refinery
unit in Odisha increased 18 per
cent to 4,48,000 tonne on the back
coastal state, the company
said.
"Heralding a new era of

to upgrade Pune mfg facility Express, AIX Connect (formerly

PTI / Mumbai
GE Aerospace on
Thursday announced
its plans to invest over
Rs 240 crore (around
USD 30 million) to up-
grade its manufacturing facility in
Pune.
The investment will be used to
add new projects and manufactur-
ing processes in the facility by ac-
quiring machines/equipment and
specialised tools along with
capacity enhancement of existing
products, the company said in a
statement.
Inaugurated in 2015, the Pune fa-
Centre Court
cility produces com-
ponents for commer-
cial jet engines.
"This investment
helps us to continue
our growth in aero-
space in India, giving
us the resources we need to meet in-
creasing customers' demand," said
Amol Nagar, managing director for
GE Aerospace's Pune facility.
The components produced at the
plant are supplied to GE's global fac-
tories where they are used to assem-
ble G90, GEnx, GE 9X commercial jet
engines, and the LEAP engines by
CFM, which is a GE and Safran joint
venture, according to the statement.
Trai begins consultation for auction
AirAsia India), and Vistara.
Meanwhile, Vistara continued
to cancel flights on Thursday as
the Tata Group works to address
pilot issues, while fares spiked in
Energy trade volume grows 14% to hit all-time hight of 110 bn units in FY24: IEX
PTI / New Delhi
Energy trading platform IEX on
Thursday said it has logged the
highest-ever trade volume of 110
billion units (BU) in the fiscal year
2023-24, registering a growth of
nearly 14 per cent year-on-year.
The total trade volume has
crossed the 100 BU-mark for the
first time in FY24, the exchange
The number of flight cancella-
tions was in the double digits on
Thursday but less than 26 cancel-
lations were seen on Wednesday
and the situation is improving,
the sources said.
said.
IEX (Indian Energy Exchange)
achieved 110 BU total trade vol-
ume in FY24, registering an in-
crease of 13.8 per cent on a Y-o-Y
basis, according to a statement.
Giving segment-wise break-up,
it said that 75.39 lakh RECs (Re-
newable Energy Certificates),
equivalent to 7,539 million units,
were traded during FY24, register-
tonnes per annum (MTPA) of
production capacity.
Meanwhile, Vedanta Ltd on
Thursday said its total alumini-
um production increased 4 per
cent to 5,98,000 tonne in the fourth
IEX achieved 110 BU total
trade volume in FY24,
registering an increase of
13.8% on a Y-o-Y basis
ing an increase of 26 per cent year-
on-year.
The government undertook
several measures which led to a
Indosol Solar aims to complete
`15K cr solar module unit by 2025
of better operational perform-
ance, the company said. At Zinc
India, the mined metal produc-
tion in Q4 dropped to 2,99,000
tonne, over 3,01,000 tonne in the
fourth quarter of FY23.
better supply scenario in the
country, as a result of which the
sell side liquidity improved on the
exchange, it said.
During the year, the sell liquid-
ity on the exchange increased by
16.9 per cent Y-o-Y, which led to a
decline in the DAM (day ahead
market) prices by 12 per cent from
Rs 5.94 per unit in FY23 to Rs 5.24
per unit in FY24.
inclusive development, Vedanta
Sesa Goa commenced mining
operations at Bicholim Mineral
Block- Block 1 in the state of
Goa," the company said in a
statement.
EFL secures
`400 cr to boost
MSME financing
PTI / Mumbai
Electronica Finance Ltd (EFL)
said on Thursday it has secured
Rs 400 crore in an equity Series B
funding round led by LeapFrog
Investments along with other in-
vestors.
The funds secured will
strengthen the company's bal-

Capital launches ance sheet and provide the foun-

`350 cr gaming,
sports tech fund
PTI / New Delhi
Centre Court Capital has launched its
maiden fund of Rs 350 crore for invest-
ment in the Indian e-sports platform
ecosystem over the next three years, a
senior official of the venture capital
firm said on Thursday.
Centre Court Capital Founder and
General Partner Mustafa Ghouse said
the fund was approved by capital mar-
ket regulator Sebi a year ago. The com-
pany has raised Rs 200 crore for the
fund and expects to close the entire
fundraise by end of this year.
"Our first target is to close the Rs 350
crore fund by the end of this calendar.
Target is to make 15-18 investments
over the next three years in Indian
businesses. Sports tech and gaming
are a focus investment area for us. We
have already raised Rs 200 crore as
part of this fund and there is a green-
shoe option of another Rs 350 crore,"
he said.
Centre Court Capital (CCC) will in-
vest Rs 8-24 crore in early stage start-
ups and has reserved 50 per cent of the
fund for follow-up investments.
CCC has already made a couple of
investments from the fund and plans
to announce a few more shortly.
Ghouse, who was founding CEO of
JSW Sports, said that the fund has the
Sajjan Jindal Family Trust as anchor
investor, with Parth Jindal at the helm.
of 4,000 Mhz spectrum in new bands
PTI / New Delhi
Telecom regulator Trai on
Thursday sought stakeholders'
views on the auction of three
new spectrum bands in higher
frequency range that will make
available around 4,000 megahertz
radiowaves for mobile services.
The regulator has sought
views on pricing, allocation
norms, and payment terms,
among others, for spectrum in
frequency bands of 37-37.5 GHz,
37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5 GHz for
mobile services.
This is the first time three spec-
trum bands in 37-37.5 Ghz, 37.5-40
Ghz and 42.5-43.5 Ghz are being
DAMAGES OF `640 CRORE TOSSED
NCDRC dismisses govt petition seeking damages from Nestle in Maggi case
PTI / New Delhi
The apex consumer forum body
NCDRC has dismissed the peti-
tion filed by the government
seeking damages of Rs 640 crore
from FMCG major Nestle over
the Maggi fiasco dating back to
2015.
The government had in 2015
alleged before the NCDRC that
Nestle was indulging in unfair
trade practices by manufactur-
ing and selling hazardous and de-
proposed for the auction that will
make available 4,000 Mhz spec-
trum for 5G services in the future.
These blocks are different from
the bands -- 800 MHz, 900 MHz,
1,800 MHz, 2,100 MHz, 2,300 MHz,
2,500 MHz, 3,300 MHz, and 26 GHz
-- which will be put on the block in
the upcoming spectrum auctions
scheduled for June 6.
"The Telecom Regulatory Au-
fective Maggi noodles to the pub-
lic.
The National Consumer Dis-
pute Redressal Commission (NC-
DRC) dismissed the two petitions
filed by the Ministry of Con-
sumer Affairs, seeking compen-
sation of Rs 284.55 crore and
punitive damages of Rs 355.41
crore.
The government had moved
NCDRC after Nestle's popular in-
stant noodles Maggi was banned
by the Food Safety and Standards
thority of India (Trai) has today
released a consultation paper on
'Auction of Spectrum in 37-37.5
GHz, 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5
GHz bands Identified for IMT," an
official release said.
While the 37-37.5 GHz band is
for mobile services, the other two
bands 37.5-40 GHz and 42.5-43.5
GHz are for mobile and Satellite
Gateway links.
Trai, in the consultation paper,
has sought the industry's opinion
on various nuances of the
auction of spectrum in these new
bands, including pricing, validity,
preferred block size, spectrum
caps, rollout obligations, and oth-
er terms and conditions.
Authority of India (FSSAI) in
June 2015 for allegedly contain-
ing lead beyond permissible lim-
its, forcing the company to with-
draw the product from the mar-
ket.
"Complaint filed by the Union
of India, Department of Con-
sumer Affairs in 2015 before NC-
DRC on the allegation that by
selling MAGGI Noodles in the
past... was dismissed by NCDRC
in favour of the Company vide
NCDRC's Order dated 2nd April
PTI / New Delhi
Indosol Solar aims to complete
phase-1 of its multi-crore inte-
grated solar module project in
Andhra Pradesh by 2025, said
Sharat Chandra, CEO of parent
SSEL Group, on Thursday.
Under the phase-1, Indosol So-
lar is investing Rs 15,000 crore to
set up 5 gigawatts (GW) of mod-
ules, 5 GW wafers, 5 GW ingot,
and 5 GW of glass capacities at
the upcoming plant at Nellore,
near Ramayapatnam port in
Andhra Pradesh, he said.
On the timeline of phase-1,
Chandra said it will be completed
by 2025. The project is part of the
government of India's PLI
Scheme for the solar sector.
2024," Nestle India in regulatory
filings said.
It was for the first time that the
government had taken action un-
'We have already started the
production of the module from
March 31. We call it Phase 1A,
which is part of Phase 1. Initially,
we started 500 MW module man-
ufacturing by investing Rs 1,300
crore,' he said.
The entire project is of 30 GW
upstream capacity along with a
20 GW downstream capacity. It is
part of the government's PLI
scheme for the solar industry,
Chandra said without sharing
the entire project cost.
Once completed, it will be the
world's first fully integrated
quartz-to-module manufacturing
plant which will produce TOP-
Con (Tunnel Oxide Passivated
Contact) and HJT (Heterojunc-
tion Technology) modules.
der Section 12-1-D of the Con-
sumer Protection Act, under
which both the Centre and states
have powers to file complaints.
In this matter on January 13,
2016, the Supreme Court had
stayed the proceedings at
NCDRC and had directed the
NABL-accredited CFTRI to clari-
fy if the results of sample tests
on Maggi Noodles show lead and
monosodium glutamate (MSG)
levels to be within the permissi-
ble limits.
dation for another phase of rapid
expansion, EFL said in a state-
ment.
According to the statement,
the new capital will be used to
boost MSME financing in the
high-growth potential manufac-
turing segment in India.
The Pune-based firm offers
loans for products like machine
rooftop solar, working capital,
and microloans against property
in semi-urban and rural India to
provide sustainable financial in-
clusion.
"Electronica Finance Ltd has
agreed upon Rs 400 crore of new
funding. The equity round was
led by LeapFrog Investments,
with participation from Aav-
ishkaar Capital," the company
said.
The results were forwarded to
the Supreme Court on April 11,
2016, stating that 29 tested sam-
ples showed lead levels within
permissible limits.
On January 3, 2019 the
Supreme Court revived the gov-
ernment case in NCDRC saying
the report of CFTRI, where the
samples of Maggi noodles were
tested following earlier orders of
the court, will form the basis for
the proceedings before the NC-
DRC.

CORPORATE GALLERY
SJVN honored with two Awards during
15th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards 2024
SJVN has won
two
prestigious
awards during
15th CIDC
Vishwakarma
Awards 2024.
The company
has been
conferred
with
‘Achievement
Award for
Creating Social Development & Impact’ and ‘CIDC Partners in
Progress Trophy’. Smt. Geeta Kapur, Chairman & Managing
Director, SJVN and Chairman of CSR Foundation said that these
Awards acknowledge SJVN’s commitment to positive change
through innovative and sustainable Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. She highlighted that the company
has secured these prestigious awards for third consecutive year.
“We are immensely proud for being recognized for our
contribution to the society and we will remain dedicated to
furthering our efforts in creating a meaningful impact,” stated
Smt. Kapur. All the CSR initiatives of SJVN are undertaken through
the registered trust, SJVN Foundation. Till date, the company has
spent more than Rs. 450 Crores on spectrum of CSR activities in
the verticals of Education & Skill development, Health & Hygiene,
Infrastructural Development & Community Asset Creation,
Preservation & Promotion of Local Culture and Sports, Sustainable
Development and Assistance during Natural Disasters etc.
On behalf of SJVN, the awards were received by Sh. Baljeet
Singh, CGM(HR) during a ceremony held at India Habitat Centre,
New Delhi.
Ticket Checking Staff on-board LTT-
Prayagraj Duronto Express assist
Passenger deliver a baby
In an extraordinary display of compassion and quick thinking, the
onboard Ticket Checking staff of the 12293 LTT to Prayagraj
Duronto Express sprang into action when a woman onboard went
into labor in coach B12. Upon receiving information about the
impending childbirth, the checking staff onboard swiftly
responded, enlisting the help of another female passenger to
assist the pregnant woman in delivering her baby safely. The
checking staff promptly notified commercial control and arranged
for the train to make an emergency stop at Burhanpur. The
mother and newborn were then transported to the hospital via
ambulance for further medical attention. Mother and the new
born Baby are both healthy at the City Hospital, Burhanpur. The
family were travelling to their native at Prayagraj. We commend
the exemplary actions of all the checking staff involved, including
Mr. Nand Bihari Meena, Mr. Alok Sharma, Mr. Rajkaran Yadav,
and Mr. Indra Kumar Meena, for their swift response and
dedication to ensuring the well-being of the mother and child.
Their selfless service serves as a shining example of humanity
and goes above and beyond the call of duty.
Send your CORPORATE / EVENTS / HEALTH / ART news and pictures to Sachin Tikare. Email: sachin@fpj.co.in
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
whispersinthecorridors
Dr Suresh Mehrotra
: Have Adani and Ambani
come closer?
There are talks in the
corridors of power that
Mukesh Ambani and
Gautam Adani have come
closer. In the top circles of India this is the hot
topic of discussion and they consider it quite
significant. Answer to this question however, lies
with only Mukesh Bhai and Gautam Bhai and of
course Narendra Bhai.
: Will Cong Party see Bihar, UP type situation in MP,
Rajasthan?
Political observers believe that once UP and Bihar
used to be run by the Congress Governments but
after the Rahul Brigade political observers say that
the situation of the party in Madhya Pradesh and
Rajasthan will be same like UP and Bihar. Only
time will show?
: Tamil Nadu poll predictions have some 'Ifs & Buts'
Tamil Nadu is going to poll in the first phase on
April 19. The state has 39 Lok Sabha seats. But
prediction is a tough thing and some ifs & buts
are being put. Sources said that DMK will win all
39 seats if EVM behaves neutral. Others opines -
BJP could make inroads and has chances to win 3-
5 seats. Sources also said that the latest issue of
Katchatheevu islands may play some role in some
constituencies especially in the southern part.
Others opined that this is a non issue in TN
Political arena right now. Final decision will be
known on June 4.
: Statues being relocated in Parliament premises
Altogether 14 Statues, situated inside the
Parliament premises are being reallocated to a
new place. According to sources the new place
will be behind the old parliament building. It is
said that a new VIP road will be built up and for
that purpose statues will be re- allocated.
: Opposition won't be able to stage dharna before
Gandhi statue
In parliament premises, the Opposition party
leaders won't be able to stage protest and
dharnas before the Gandhi and Ambedkar Statues,
because these statues, along with others, will be
shifted to other place that will be far from the
new building.
Check the news online at www.freepressjournal.in/corporate-gallery/
: IAS officer resigns in Punjab
Punjab cadre 2011 batch IAS officer
Parampal Kaur Sidhu is reportd to
have resigned from the service. She is
likely to join the BJP and contest the
Lok Sabha elections.
: IRPS officer Anand Madhikar appointed
Addl. DG, ASI
Anand Madhikar, Chief Personnel Officer (IR),
Northern Railway has been selected for deputation
to the post of Additional Director General (Addl.
DG), Archaeological Survey of lndia (ASI), under the
Ministry of Culture for a tenure of five years. He is an
Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.
: IRAS officer Mahabir Prasad appointed JS & FA,
Ministry of Power
Mahabir Prasad, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR),
has been selected for deputation to the post of Joint
Secretary & Financial Advisor (JS & FA), Ministry of
Power, for a tenure of five years. He is an Indian
Railway Accounts Service (IRAS) officer.
: Defence exports touch record Rs 21,083 crore in FY
2023-24
Defence exports have touched a record Rs 21,083
crore (approx. US$ 2.63 Billion) in the Financial Year
(FY) 2023-24, a growth of 32.5% over the last fiscal
when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The recent
figures indicate that the defence exports have grown
by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to
FY2013-14. The defence Industry, including the
private sector and Defence Public Sector
Undertakings (DPSUs), have made tremendous
efforts in achieving the highest-ever defence exports.
— Correctness of this content is the responsibility of the author.
By arrangement with whispersintheccorridors.com
 Govt to educate A ssam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma
on Thursday promised that the state
in their bank accounts until they pass
class 12, the CM said. After the girls pass

girl students
government will educate girl students up to class 12, they will be given Rs 12,500 for
the postgraduate level. Currently, all girls who college admission, while he added that those
pass the class 10 examinations are given a going for postgraduation will be given

MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024 in Assam: CM cycle or a scooter. From this year, an amount
of Rs 10,000 will be deposited for two years
Rs 25,000.
– Education Desk/Mumbai, (Inputs from PTI)

IIT placement woes: Top campuses have higher
unplaced students, alumni group claims
KRISHA BHATT/MUMBAI
The placement season at var-
ious campuses of the Indian
Institute of Technology (IIT)
started in December 2023. It
is now garnering attention
as the placement statistics
paint a concerning picture
for the students.
The data provided by
Dheeraj Singh, an IIT Kan-
pur alumnus and the
founder of Global IIT Alum-
ni Support Group, based on
an RTI filed by him, reveals
that placements may not be a
smooth and fruitful process
this year.
According to Singh, the
IITs might record a higher
number of unplaced stu-
dents than in previous years.
He has crunched these num-
bers from the RTI data that
he received.
According to the statistics
crunched by Singh, out of
the total of 1,976 students
who registered for
placement opportunities this
year, 712 students remain un-
placed. His prediction re-
veals that approximately
35.6% of students might not
get placed this year.
Comparing these statistics
to the previous year’s place-
ment data reveals that ap-
proximately 33.4% of stu-
dents could not find jobs dur-
ing the placement season
last year.
Likewise, at the IIT Delhi,
Singh’s data has predicted
An IIT Kanpur alumnus
revealed that the IITs might
record a higher number of
unplaced students vis-a-vis
previous years
that approximately 48.2% of
the registered students can
end up unplaced. The said in-
stitute registered 2,000 stu-
dents for placement opportu-
nities, out of which 964 stu-
dents are yet to secure place-
ments.
At the IIT Kanpur, approx-
imately 31.2% of registered
students might not get a
placement this year. Out of
1,600 students who registered
for placement services, 500
students remain unplaced. In
2023, out of the 1,660 students
who registered for place-
ments, approximately 23.6%
could not be placed.
A similar placement sce-
nario has been predicted for
IIT Madras as approximately
45.2% of registered students
can remain unplaced this
year. Of the 2,100 students
who registered for
placement services, 950 have
not received job offers. In
2023, out of the 2,323 students
registered at IIT Madras, ap-
proximately 31.9% remained
unplaced.
Singh has expressed con-
cern over the predicted per-
centage of unplaced
students at the IITs. He has
emphasised the need for the
institutes to support un-
placed students in finding
employment, especially con-
Govt trashes report claiming
new Sainik Schools allocated
PIC: IIT DELHI_OFFICIAL WEBSITE
past, “ said Singh.
based on political affiliations
Singh further highlighted PTI/NEW DELHI jectives and strong incen- by the school inspection
that the salaries offered by
recruiting companies have The defence ministry on
tives are in place to provide
financial support to deserv-
committee. Hence, the
scheme provides for a con-
substantially declined, with Wednesday trashed reports ing students," the ministry tinued adherence to achiev-
packages dropping from which claimed that the new said. ing the identified standards,"
crore-plus figures to Rs 3-4 Sainik Schools were allocat- "The political or ideologi- it said.
lakh per annum. “Clearly,
our economy is not produc-
ed to institutions based on
their political or ideological
cal affiliation or otherwise
of the applicant institution
In October 2021, the Union
Cabinet approved the affilia-
ing enough jobs for youth affiliations. does not influence the selec- tion of 100 schools in govern-
and we are heading towards Online media platform tion process," it said. ment and private sectors
greater unemployment and 'The Reporters' Collective' in "Attempts to politicise or with Sainik School Society
economic inequality which a report claimed that the gov- distort the objectives and im- under the Ministry of De-
is a worrisome trend”, Singh ernment handed over 62% of plementation of the scheme fence. The ministry said a
said. the new Sainik Schools to by casting aspersions on it, strict evaluation process
When The people associated with Sangh are unwarranted and mis- was followed to scrutinise
Free Press Jour- Parivar, politicians from the leading," the ministry added. the applicants.
nal reached out BJP and its allies. In the first phase, the gov- Explaining the process, it
to IIT Madras, "Articles have appeared in ernment has initiated the said a school evaluation
IIT Delhi, IIT certain sections of the press scheme of setting up 100 new committee composed of the
Kanpur and IIT insinuating that new Sainik Sainik Schools across the concerned district magis-
Bombay, to get Schools are being allocated country, in partnership with trate as chairperson and
their reaction to institutions based on their NGOs, state governments principals of nearby
and confirma- political or ideological affili- and the private sector which existing Sainik Schools/
tion on the pre- ations. Such insinuations are working in the education Navodaya Vidyalayas was
sidering dicted statistics, are unfounded," the defence sector. The ministry said set up. "Physical inspection
the inci- only IIT Delhi re- ministry said in a statement. over 500 applications have of the applicant school and
dents of sponded that this It said a rigorous selection been received and scruti- verification of the creden-
student might not be the process was followed to fi- nised. tials is done as per laid down
suicides case this year. nalise institutions to run the "As on date, approval has criteria," it said.
in recent However, pro- new Sainik Schools. been accorded to 45 schools. "An Approval Committee
years. viding clarifica- "The scheme for new This includes both existing which comprises the Joint
“This is tion on the statis- Sainik Schools is well schools and schools pro- Secretary (Sainik Schools
a very dis- tics of 2023, IIT thought out. The selection posed to be built," it said. Society) as chairperson, Sec-
hearten- Bombay took to process itself is rigorous, "Approval to these schools retary CBSE and an eminent
ing state X and posted a checks and balances have is given provisionally. Con- educationist as members ac-
of affairs pie chart reveal- been built in to ensure con- tinuation of approval is cord the final recommenda-
for the top ing that only tinuing adherence to the ob- based on annual inspection tions," the ministry said.
young tal- 6.1% students at REPRESENTATIVE PIC: SAINIK SCHOOL, PURULIA
ents of our country. IITs the institute are looking for
should help unplaced stu- jobs.
dents in finding a job. This is
a serious matter considering (The Free Press Journal
a large number of IIT stu- has not confirmed the data
dent suicides in the recent independently)

Bengal Higher
Secondary Council
suggests warm-up
course on AI for
class 10 students
PTI/KOLKATA
The West Bengal Council of
Higher Secondary Educa-
tion has proposed that sec-
ondary schools introduce a
warm-up course for Class
10 students interested in
pursuing the new Applied
Artificial Intelligence and
Cyber Security subjects in
the higher secondary cur-
riculum.
Council president Chi-
ranjib Bhattacharya said
this short-term course will
serve as a basic warm-up
for students considering
subjects like Modern Com-
puter Applications, Com-
puter Science, Artificial In-
telligence, Applied Artifi-
cial Intelligence, Data Sci-
ence, and Cyber Security in
higher secondary classes.
"Applied Artificial Intel-
ligence and Cyber Security
are the two new subjects set
to be introduced from the
academic year 2024-25. The
syllabus for the existing
subjects, Modern Computer
Application and Computer
Science, has been updated
to ensure relevance and
contemporaneity," Bhat-
tacharya added.
He added, "Given this
scenario, the council be-
lieves that a basic warm-up
course is necessary for in-
terested class 10 students of
CBI all set to take over probe in
Kerala veterinary student’s death
PTI / NEW DELHI documents and details to the CBI con- authority in the government of India, re-
The CBI is all set to take over the probe
cerning the investigation.
Anju, who was serving as an assistant,
questing for investigation by CBI in a se-
rious and sensitive matter," the order fur-
into the death of 20-year-old veterinary section officer Bindhu VK and deputy ther said. Union Minister Rajeev Chan-
student Sidharthan JS, whose body was secretary Prasantha VK were placed un- drasekhar, the NDA candidate for the
found hanging inside the bathroom of the der suspension by Home Secretary Bish- Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat,
college hostel in Kerala's Wayanad wanath Sinha. had assured the student's family of expe-
district on Feb 18, officials said. Besides the opposition, the deceased diting the launch of the CBI investigation
Sidharthan was subjected to ragging student's family also came out against the into the death.
by fellow students, including activists of government, alleging that it was deliber- The Congress-led UDF had also
CPI-M's students' wing SFI, his family had ately trying to delay the CBI probe accused the Left government and the po-
alleged demanding a CBI in-
quiry. The agency is awaiting a
lice of trying to save those re-
sponsible for the death of the DU’s Zakir Husain College asks teachers to
reference from the Centre after
which it will re-register the FIR
filed by Kerala Police as its case,
student by delaying the
transfer of the case to the CBI.
Leader of Opposition in the
pay Rs 500 for science festival, faces flak
officials said. Assembly VD Satheesan had PTI/NEW DELHI Rs 250 as registration fees.
Once the case is re-regis- alleged that by delaying the A section of teachers criticised the move,
tered, a team of CBI officials handover of the case to CBI, the Delhi University's Zakir Husain College has is- saying the college administration should not
will visit the state soon with the state government and the sued a notice asking faculty members of the turn the faculty members and students into
forensics team to take over doc- police were also trying to de- Science and Psychology departments to de- "funding agencies" to organise such events.
uments from the local police stroy evidence in the case. posit Rs 500 for a science festival, a move that Democratic Teachers Front (DTF) secretary
and start the investigation, His statements on his Face- has drawn flak from a section of teachers. Abha Dev Habib told PTI that charges for such
they said. According to the pro- book page came after the father Zakir Husain Delhi College Principal events are already included in students' fees.
cedure, the CBI starts a probe of the deceased student met Narendra Singh, however, told PTI on Wednes- "Educational institutions are facing
in such state-referred cases by Satheesan at his official resi- day that it's a registration fee for teachers and funding cuts but they cannot turn students
re-registering the FIR of local dence. The opposition leader, in it's not mandatory for them to pay it. and teachers into a funding agency for such
police. The findings which are his post, said Sidharthan's fa- In a notice dated Apr 1, the college adminis- events or development work," she said.
submitted in the form of a final
Congress leaders demonstrating demanding CBI inquiry into the ther—Jayaprakash—and fami- tration informed the teachers that the cost in- In a post on Facebook, Habib also slammed
report to a court after the com- death of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University ly were worried that the alleged curred on the festival would be covered using Delhi University Teachers' Association
pletion of the probe can be student JS Sidhharth (FILE PHOTO ANI) killers of the student were be- departmental funds and the registration fees (DUTA) president A K Bhagi for agreeing to at-
completely different from the alle- ing protected by the government, for the event. tend the event as the chief guest.
gations in the FIR. without handing them over the necessary police and CPI(M) leaders. "This is for the information of all Science Reacting to the criticism, Zakir Husain Del-
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi files and by destroying the evidence. After meeting Satheesan, the father departments and Department of Psychology hi College Principal Narendra Singh said
Vijayan had assured a CBI probe on Mar In the suspension order, the govern- claimed that his son was being harassed that a Science Festival is being organised by most programmes have such fees.
9 after a political uproar. The issue snow- ment made it clear that the order handing for eight months before his death accord- the college on 4th and 5th April 2024. The budg- "It is simply a registration fee that the teach-
balled into a political controversy with op- over the probe to the central agency was ing to a news report after Sidharathan's et incurred in this festival will be covered from ers have been requested to deposit. It's not
position Congress and BJP alleging the issued on Mar 9. death. He also claimed various senior SFI the departmental fund and registration fee. mandatory for them to do so. Most pro-
government was yet to hand over neces- But it was only on Mar 26 that the file leaders were "camping" at the college for "Therefore, all the faculty members are re- grammes have such entry fees. We have also
sary files to the CBI weeks after the assur- was submitted along with the pro forma several months and his son was allegedly quested to deposit an amount of Rs 500 with asked students to deposit Rs 250 as
ance. The Kerala government had recent- report and all other necessary documents made to strip and sit on his knees. "They the teachers listed below. The concerned registration fees for the event," he said.
ly suspended three employees of the in this regard. "It has taken 17 days for the were all aware of what was going on. teachers will deposit this amount with the Nobody will be barred from attending the
Home Department alleging "dereliction office to send all the required details in They could have put an end to it back cashier of the college," the notice read. event if they don't deposit the registration
and unresponsiveness" in handing over the prescribed method to the competent then. The college also asked students to deposit fees, he said.

2024."
In a statement to schools
on Apr 1, Bhattacharya sug-
gested a short-duration
computer course, termed
the 'Bootstrap Program,'
which would provide stu-
dents with a basic platform
to pursue any of the afore-
mentioned courses.
Bhattacharya clarified
that the council only sug-
gests schools consider im-
plementing the Bootstrap
Program and not mandat-
ing its conduct.
He proposed that April
and May be utilised for this
course before the com-
mencement of the core
higher secondary curricu-
lum. The results of the
higher secondary exams,
held in mid-February, are
expected to be announced
within 90 days.
"Theory classes may be
conducted in the classroom
or online, as per the school's
convenience. If a school is
unable to conduct the
course, the study materials
provided by the council
may be shared with inter-
ested students. Schools
planning to conduct the
course can drop an email at
academic@wbchse.net with
relevant details," Bhat-
tacharya said.
IIM Udaipur awards degrees to 429 students at its 12th Annual Convocation
Suresh Narayanan, the
chairman and MD of Nestle
India, was the chief guest
at the event.
EDUCATION DESK/MUMBAI
The Indian Institute of Manage-
ment (IIM) Udaipur hosted its 12th
Annual Convocation for its two-
year MBA (batch of 2022-24), one-
year full-time MBAs in Global Sup-
ply Chain Management (GSCM)
and Digital Enterprise Manage-
ment (DEM) (batches of 2022-23)
and PhD, on Monday, Apr 1, at its Glimpses of the 12th Annual Convocation of IIM Udaipur PIC: IIM UDAIPUR
300-acre campus at Balicha,
Udaipur. (batches 2023-24). value their parents' sacrifices, and Patel said, "In celebrating the ginning. This institution has pro- medal in a one-year MBA in DEM.
Pankaj Patel, the chairman of Addressing the convocation, nurture empathy and compassion achievements of our institution, vided you with a transformational Priya Jain, Ritik Raj, and Aditya
the Board of Governors of IIM Narayanan emphasised the impor- as guiding principles. we must acknowledge the dedica- learning experience. Therefore, I Singhal were awarded gold medals
Udaipur, presided over the convoca- tance of understanding the culture Patel highlighted the IIM’s tion of our faculty, the success of urge you to never stop learning, to for scholastic performance in the
tion. The convocation address was and values of the communities the achievements, including its steady our collaborations, and the re- never stop growing, and to never two-year MBA programme. Mi-
delivered by Suresh Narayanan, students will work in. He cautioned position in global rankings and its silience of our students. As you em- stop pushing yourself to be the best tusha Mishra of the one-year MBA
the chairman and managing direc- against the widespread desire for commitment to digital transforma- bark on your careers, remember you can be. You are now part of a (GSCM) programme won the Man-
tor of Nestle India Ltd, the chief quick success, urging the students tion and research excellence. He that learning is a lifelong journey, vast network of IIM Udaipur alum- hattan Award for Women in Supply
guest, and Prof Ashok Banerjee, to instead focus on finding content- emphasised the importance of fac- and your experiences here have ni, you are all stakeholders in the Chain. Vinayak Karewa won the
the director of IIM Udaipur deliv- ment without being complacent. ulty and announced significant col- equipped you to navigate the chal- institute's success.” JM Financial Centre for Financial
ered the concluding address. He encouraged them to pursue laborations and initiatives, such as lenges ahead. I extend my heartfelt Stuti Arora, Suman Choudhary Research Merit Award for the best
A total of 429 students their passions wholeheartedly the JM Financial Centre for Finan- congratulations to all graduates and Sunanda Katewa were finance student.
graduated, including three PhD while giving back to society, stress- cial Research and the India Digital and commend the director, faculty, awarded their PhD. Ashish Kumar IIM Udaipur is ranked 16th by
students, 310 students of two-year ing that true fulfilment lies in mak- Conclave. He praised the graduat- and community of IIMU for their Gupta was awarded a gold medal the National Institutional Ranking
MBA (batch 2022-24) and 116 stu- ing a positive impact. Narayanan ing students for their resilience and outstanding contributions." for scholastic performance in the Framework Rankings 2023 of the
dents each of one-year MBA in also exhorted the graduates to hone urged them to continue learning Banerjee said, "This convocation one-year MBA in GSCM. Pavit Teg HRD Ministry.
GSCM and one-year MBA in DEM practical communication skills, and striving for excellence. is not just an ending, but a new be- Bir Singh was awarded a gold (With inputs from agencies)

Nation paid price for BJP's compulsion to get donations
NEW DELHI: The Congress on Thursday
launched another attack on the BJP, alleging
that its compulsion to get donations at all
costs saw it go ahead with the electoral
bonds scheme without heeding Reserve Bank
RIPPLES
Quake hits
Chamba in
Himachal
SHIMLA: Tremors were felt
in parts of north India as a
5.3-magnitude earthquake
hit Chamba district of
Himachal Pradesh on
Thursday.
The earthquake struck at
9.34 pm, the National
Centre for Seismology (NCS)
said. It lasted for a couple
of seconds. Mild tremors
were also felt in Chandigarh
and parts of Punjab and
Haryana. The earthquake’s
epicentre was at a depth
10 km in Chamba district,
said officials of the
meteorological department
in Shimla. No loss of life or
property has been reported
from any part of Himachal
Pradesh. "I felt a strong jolt
lasting a couple of seconds.
Just when I was thinking of
rushing downstairs, the
tremors stopped," said
Sanjay Kumar, a Chandigarh
resident. An 8-magnitude
earthquake on this day in
1905 in Himachal Pradesh's
Kangra had led to largescale
death and destruction.
According to NCS records,
more than 20,000 people
had died in the disaster in
the Western Himalayas.
‘BJP will push
J’khand into
backwardness’
HAZARIBAG: Kalpana Soren,
the wife of jailed former
Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren,
claimed BJP will push the
state into backwardness if it
returns to power at the
Centre. Soren was in
Hazaribag taking part in the
45th foundation day
celebrations of the party. At a
gathering, she said, "The
dictatorial force, which is in
front of you at the Centre,
has made Jharkhand a
stepson. If the BJP comes to
power again and if you make
BJP leaders win from here, it
will further push Jharkhand
into backwardness." She
alleged that the BJP "doesn't
like Jharkhand and hates
people of the state". "They
don't like us to talk to them
eye-to-eye with self-respect.
They don't like that any
student from Jharkhand goes
abroad for study," she
claimed.
Indian workers
leave for Israel
NEW DELHI: India on
Thursday said it has urged
Israel to ensure safety of the
Indian construction workers
who have gone to the
country this week under the
framework of a bilateral
mobility agreement. Israeli
Ambassador to India Naor
Gilon said on Tuesday the
first batch of over 60 Indian
construction workers has
left for Israel. "As you are
aware, these (first batch)
workers have gone to Israel
as part of a mobility
agreement that we have
signed with the country,”
External Affairs Ministry
spokesperson Randhir
Jaiswal said at his weekly
media briefing.
BF kills woman;
stuffs body in
cupboard
NEW DELHI: A 26-year-old
woman was allegedly killed
by her live-in partner, who
stuffed her body into the
wardrobe at their rented
accommodation in Delhi's
Dwarka area before fleeing,
police said on Thursday. The
deceased was identified as
Rukshar Rajput. Police said a
police control room (PCR) call
was received at Dabri police
station at 10:40 p.m. on
Wednesday regarding the
murder of a woman in Gali
No 10, Rajapuri, following
which a police team rushed
to the spot. The caller,
Mustkim, father of Rukshar,
told the police team that a
man named Vipal Tailor, his
daughter's boyfriend, had
killed her. He said that his
daughter had been living in
this flat with Vipal Tailor for
the past one and a half
months.
Spurned by Shah, Eshwarappa to contest as rebel
FPJ / BENGALURU
Karnataka’s former deputy
chief minister and senior BJP
leader KS Eshwarappa has de-
cided to contest in the ensuing
Lok Sabha elections as an inde-
pendent after Union Minister
Amit Shah refused to meet him
in Delhi.
“By not meeting, Shah has
sent a signal that I should
contest the election and defeat
of India's (RBI) astute advice. In a series of
posts on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh
claimed that more than Rs 430 crore was
donated to the ruling party by 33 companies
that had negative or near zero profit.
‘Agni Prime’ launch successful CID summons 300 RTI
PTI / NEW DELHI
India has successfully carried
out a night launch of new
generation nuclear capable
ballistic missile ‘Agni Prime’
from the Abdul Kalam Island
off the coast of Odisha, boost-
ing the country’s strategic de-
terrence capability.
The defence ministry said
the test-flight was carried out
on Wednesday evening and it
met all the trial objectives,
validating the reliable per-
formance, as confirmed from
the data captured by a num-
ber of range sensors deployed
at different locations.
The Strategic Forces Com-
mand (SFC), along with De-
fence Research and Develop-
ment Organisation (DRDO),
carried out the flight test of
the missile that has a strike
range of 1,000 to 2,000 km.
Defence Minister Rajnath
Army plans transformative reforms
to boost combat capabilities
PTI / NEW DELHI
Top commanders of the
Army have decided to explore
the feasibility of creating a
tailor-made organisation to
function as “adversarial
force” to carry out realistic
wargaming and training as
part of overall efforts to en-
hance the force’s combat
prowess to deal with future
security challenges. The com-
manders, at a conference, also
decided to revise the force’s
human resource manage-
ment policy to make it more
innovative towards meeting
the requirements of a tech-
HDK files papers on
last day of nominations
RAJASHEKARA S / BENGALURU
Former chief minister HD
Kumaraswamy, BJP national
Yuva Morcha president Te-
jasvi Surya, noted cardiolo-
gist Dr CN Manjunath are
among many prominent peo-
ple who filed their nomina-
tions on the last day for April
26 Lok Sabha polls.
With a huge fanfare, JD(S)
leader Kumaraswamy who is
contesting from Mandya Lok
Sabha seat filed his papers af-
ter offering pooja at Arkesh-
war temple and later ad-
dressed a rally attended by
close to one lakh.
He was accompanied by
former chief minister BS
Yediyurappa, Goa Chief Min-
ister Pramod Sawant, scion
of Mysuru and BJP Lok Sab-
ha candidate Yaduveer Wode-
‘DMK’s Karuna kept in the
loop about Katchatheevu’
Nehru, Indira called island a ‘little island’ and ‘little rock’: EAM
PTI / THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Stepping up his attack
against the DMK, External
Affairs Minister S champions of Tamils and
Jaishankar claimed on
Thursday that the regional
party was very much associ-
ated with the then Central
government’s negotiations
with Sri Lanka on
Katchatheevu island and the
outcome five decades ago.
As the issue continued to
dominate the poll campaign
in Tamil Nadu, Jaishankar
claimed that agreements
could be reached between In-
dia and Sri Lanka on the is-
land after the then DMK gov-
ernment was kept in the loop.
“I think what is most im-
portant is that the people of
Tamil Nadu should know the
truth. How did it happen? It
happens because when the
Central government was ne-
gotiating this issue, they were
actually consulting the then
state government, which was
led by the DMK, but that was
kept as a secret.
the official candidate. I will win
the election and strengthen
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
and Shah,’’ he said.
Shah, during his recent visit
to Karnataka, had asked him to
withdraw from the elections. He
had even asked a miffed Esh-
warappa to come to Delhi on
Thursday.
Before going to Delhi, Esh-
warappa had made it clear that
he was not going to change his
The new generation ballistic
missile Agni-Prime is success-
fully flight-tested from the APJ
Abdul Kalam Island off the
Odisha coast on Thursday –PTI
enabled future-ready Indian
Army.
The top Army brass also
resolved to undertake organi-
the innovation
potential of Army
Design Bureau will be
upscaled besides
separate cells of the
bureau established
sational and procedural
transformation in the 1.2 mil-
lion force to ensure induction
and absorption of niche tech-
yar.
In Bengaluru South Lok
Sabha sitting member Surya
filed his nominations while
Dr Manjunath filed nomina-
tions from Bengaluru Rural
seat at Ramanagar as BJP
seat. Dr Manjunath is the
brother-in-law of Ku-
maraswamy. He is fighting
against sitting member DK
Suresh, younger brother of
deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
In Hassan, former prime
minister HD Deve Gowda ac-
companied his grandson and
sitting JD(S) member
Prajwal Revanna to file his
papers. In the ongoing polls,
BJP and JD(S) are contesting
together. As part of the seat-
sharing deal, of the 28 seats,
the BJP would contest 25
seats, and JD(S) in the re-
maining three.
“So, DMK was very much a
party to these negotiations,
very much a party to this out-
come," the minister said, re-
sponding to a query during an
interaction with the media.
Citing documents that be-
came public via the RTI, he
said what they showed was
that from 1973 onwards, the
then Central government and
external affairs ministry held
continuous and detailed con-
sultation with the Tamil
Nadu government and the
then CM M Karunanidhi per-
sonally on this matter.
“And in fact, the position of
the DMK was, ‘Okay, we agree
with all of these, but you
know, in public, we will not
support it. So, in public, we
will say something else, but
stand to contest as an independ-
ent against BY Raghavendra,
son of former chief minister BS
Yediyurappa, in the Shimoga
Lok Sabha seat. He had also
said he would withdraw if BY
Vijayendra, another son of
Yediyurappa, is removed as
state BJP unit president.
When Eshwarappa reached
Delhi, he was told by Shah’s of-
fice that the Union minister was
not available for a meeting.
Singh congratulated the
DRDO, SFC and the armed
forces for the successful test
flight and stated that the suc-
cessful development and in-
duction of the missile will be
an excellent force multiplier
for the military.
“Strategic Forces Com-
mand (SFC), along with the
DRDO, conducted the suc-
cessful flight-test of new gen-
eration ballistic missile
Agni-Prime from Dr APJ Ab-
dul Kalam Island off the
coast of Odisha at around
1900 hours on April 3,” the
ministry said.
“The test met all the trial
objectives validating its reli-
able performance, as con-
firmed from the data
captured by a number of
range sensors deployed at dif-
ferent locations, including
two downrange ships placed
at the terminal point,” it said.
nology towards futuristic ca-
pability development with a
focus on ‘Atmanirbharta’
(self-reliance).
Towards this, the innova-
tion potential of Army
Design Bureau will be up-
scaled besides separate cells
of the bureau established at
command headquarters.
“To further bolster the ini-
tiative, the option of creating
a separate fund head will be
explored. In addition, test bed
brigades/formations will be
nominated to ensure greater
efficiency and continuity in
trials and finalisation of trial
reports,” the Army said.
38 candidates file nominations for
2nd phase of LS poll in Assam
Congress has turned into an obsolete currency note: Sarma
DIGJYOTI LAHKAR / GUWAHATI
A total of 38 candidates have
filed nominations for the sec-
ond phase of the Lok Sabha
elections in five Lok Sabha
constituencies of Assam. The
polls will be held on April 26.
Till Thursday, the last day
of filing nominations, 65 can-
didates have filed 118 nomina-
tion papers. According to the
poll schedule, April 5 will be
the date of scrutiny of nomi-
nation papers and April 8 will
be the last date of withdrawal
of nomination. The voting
will be conducted on April 26.
Of the 38 candidates, five
filed nominations for Dar-
rang-Udalguri constituency,
five in Diphu, 20 in Karim-
ganj, two in Silchar and two
actually we are with you’,”
Jaishankar claimed, while
taking a dig at the DMK's
claim that they were the
fishermen.
He said the island issue has
been frequently raised in Par-
liament and has been a
matter of frequent correspon-
dence between the Centre and
the state government.
“I can remember replying
to more than 20 letters on this
issue (to the current chief
minister of Tamil Nadu M K
Stalin),” Jaishankar said.
Earlier on April 1, the min-
ister had claimed that PMs
from the Congress displayed
indifference about Katchathe-
evu island as if they did not
care and gave away Indian
fishermen’s rights despite le-
gal views to the contrary.
He said that PMs such as
Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira
Gandhi dubbed Katchathee-
vu, given to Sri Lanka in 1974
as part of a maritime bound-
ary agreement, as a “little is-
land” and “little rock”.
A disappointed Eshwarappa
interpreted that as a positive sig-
nal for him to contest the polls. “I
have raised my voice against dy-
nasty politics and for the back-
ward class people seeking ade-
quate representation,’’ he said.
Eshwarappa was one of the
key BJP leaders who along with
BB Shivappa, Yediyurappa and
former union minister late HN
Ananth Kumar built the party
from scratch.
The launch was witnessed
by Chief of Defence Staff
Gen Anil Chauhan, the Chief
of Strategic Forces
Command and senior
officials from the DRDO and
the Indian Army.
Gen Chauhan and Chair-
man DRDO Samir V Kamat
appreciated the efforts of the
SFC and DRDO for the suc-
cessful flight test.
Last month, India success-
fully carried out the first
flight test of indigenously de-
veloped Agni-5 missile with
multiple independently tar-
getable re-entry vehicle
(MIRV) under its ‘Mission Di-
vyastra’.
Agni-V missile has a range
of up to 5,000 km and it can
bring almost the entire Asia,
including the northernmost
part of China as well as some
regions in Europe under its
striking range.
Ladakh:
Emergency
landing by
Apache chopper
PTI / NEW DELHI
An Apache helicopter of the
Indian Air Force (IAF) made
an emergency landing
during an operational sortie
in Ladakh and it sustained
damage due to “undulating”
terrain and high altitude, the
IAF said on Thursday.
The IAF said the incident
took place on Wednesday and
both the pilots on board are
safe.
It was the first such inci-
dent involving an Apache
chopper in the IAF, military
officials said.
candidates filed their nomina-
tion in Nagaon constituency.
In the second phase, the
voting will be conducted in
Nagaon, Darrang-Udalguri,
Silchar, Karimganj and
Diphu Lok Sabha seats.
In Nagaon, BJP candidate
Suresh Bora, and Congress
candidate Pradyut Bordoloi
filed nominations for Nagaon
parliamentary constituency
before the returning officer
of Nagaon, Narendra Kr
Shah on Thursday.
Suresh Bora was accompa-
nied by Chief Minister Hi-
manta Biswa Sarma,
minister Pijjush Hazarika,
BJP MLAs Rupak Sarma and
Jitu Goswami during the fil-
ing of the nomination.
Sarma addressed a huge
Low-flying
aircraft over
B’luru puzzles
residents
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
BENGALURU
For the past two days, resi-
dents of Koramangala in
Bengaluru have been dealing
with the constant buzzing
noise of a plane circling
above the neighbourhood.
Several X users pointed out
that a Boeing aircraft was
passing close to the ground
and did around six circles
over the Hindustan Aeronau-
tics Limited Airport.
Flightradar24, which
tracks commercial flights,
said the aircraft was a Boeing
777-337 (ER), with
registration number K7067,
which is used to fly VVIPs
like the President, Vice Presi-
dent and Prime Minister.
Flight data showed the air-
craft departed from Delhi,
and made six circles around
the HAL airport.
Raj government asks employees
to follow ‘dignified’ dress code
MANISH GODHA / JAIPUR
The Bhajan Lal Sharma-led
BJP government in
Rajasthan has asked govern-
ment employees to follow a
“dignified ” dress code in
their office.
An internal order to this
effect issued by Joint Secre-
tary in the General Adminis-
tration Department, Neetu
Rajeshwar, states that "digni-
fied dress, discipline, eti-
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
activists for verification
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
The Gujarat Crime Investiga-
tion Department has sparked
concern among RTI activists
in the state with its recent
move to summon over 300 in-
dividuals for verification of
their credentials and the pur-
poses behind their RTI appli-
cations. This action comes in
the wake of alleged extortion
charges against Ahmedabad-
based RTI activist Mahendra
Patel.
The CID announced on
Wednesday that it had issued
summons under Section 91 of
the Criminal Procedure Code.
This section empowers the de-
partment to summon individ-
uals to produce documents or
materials relevant to a probe.
Reportedly, the activists sum-
moned are those connected to
Mahendra Patel through so-
cial media platforms.
“We have decided to proac-
tively verify the credentials
of around 300 other RTI ac-
tivists and also ascertain the
purposes for which they
utilised the information ob-
tained from various depart-
ments,” stated Superinten-
dent of Police CID (Crime)
Mukesh Patel.
This move by the CID rais-
es questions about potential
intimidation tactics against
those exercising their right to
information under the RTI
Act. The Act, enacted in 2005,
empowers citizens to request
information from public au-
thorities, promoting trans-
parency and accountability
in government functioning.
The impetus for the CID’s
rally at Nagaon Dawson HS
School playground, where he
said the environment in Na-
gaon has been changed and
the wind flows in favour of
BJP candidate Suresh Bora
in the constituency this time.
“The huge crowd has proved
it today that we will win,”
Sarma said.
Taking a dig at the opposi-
tion Congress, Sarma said
Cong had turned into an old
obsolete currency note with
which nothing could be pur-
chased in the market and cur-
rently people could realise that.
Following the event, Sarma
along with Suresh Bora, Pi-
jjush Hazarika, Rupak Sar-
ma, Jitu Goswami and other
senior leaders staged a huge
roadshow.
AAP KE LIYE: Kejri, Bhagat Singh,
Ambedkar in same league?
GAURAV VIVEK BHATNAGAR /
NEW DELHI
The image of Delhi chief min-
ister Arvind Kejriwal behind
bars was on Thursday used for
the first time in the backdrop
of his seat, from where his
wife, Sunita, has been convey-
ing his messages to the public
and party functionaries. While
the Aam Aadmi Party has
been using this image at all the
events organised to protest
against his arrest as also on its
social media handles, it has
now been placed between the
images of Shaheed Bhagat
Singh and B.R. Ambedkar to
remind people of the situation
Kejriwal finds himself in.
Sunita, who has ever since
the arrest of Kejriwal by the
Enforcement Directorate in
the Delhi liquor policy case on
March 21, made several video
appearances to read out Kejri-
wal’s messages and appeals,
on Thursday came out with
his message from jail in
which he urged the Aam Aad-
Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant
quette and morality should
be ensured by officers/ per-
NATION
The CID has issued summons under Section 91
of the Criminal Procedure Code
action appears to be the re-
cent filing of four extortion
cases against Mahendra Patel
since January. According to
reports, Patel allegedly used
information obtained via RTI
to threaten a school in Surat
with license cancellation and
subsequently extorted Rs. 66
lakh from them. Patel has
been booked under relevant
sections of the Indian Penal
Code (IPC) pertaining to ex-
tortion and criminal intimi-
dation.
However, the decision to
broadly target RTI activists
with social media connec-
tions to Patel has caused ap-
prehension among activists.
They fear this could be a
veiled attempt to discourage
legitimate RTI use and
silence those exposing poten-
tial corruption.
“The timing and the scale
of this verification drive raise
concerns. It is crucial to dis-
tinguish between genuine
RTI activism and any mis-
Punjab police sets up 217
‘nakas’ to break drug chain
RAJESH MOUDGIL /
CHANDIGARH
Special Director General of
Police, Law and Order, Pun-
jab, Arpit Shukla on Thurs-
day held a meeting with the
top Border Security Force
(BSF) officers to further
strengthen the second line of
defence and break the supply
chain of drugs from across
the border.
The Special DGP accompa-
nied by IG, Frontier Head-
quarters, BSF, Jalandhar, Dr
Atul Fulzele also held a meet-
ing with the senior officers of
Punjab police, BSF, CRPF,
ITBP, Narcotics Control Bu-
reau (NCB) and other central
agencies to review security
arrangements at the border
and discussed issues pertain-
ing to upcoming Parliamen-
tary Elections 2024.
mi Party MLAs to visit their
constituencies on a daily
basis to ensure that the people
don't face any problems.
The party also posted on its
handle on ‘X’ that “Arvind Ke-
jriwal has sent a message to
all MLAs. Just because I am in
jail, the people of Delhi
should not suffer in any way.
Every MLA should visit their
area every day and discuss
people's problems and sort
them out." It added that Kejri-
wal has asked the party legis-
lators to “Resolve every issue
faced by anyone” and has stat-
ed that “I am not just talking
about solving government-re-
lated problems, we should
also try to address other
sonnel in all government
offices”.
The order has been issued
in compliance with directions
given by Chief Secretary Sud-
hansh Pant at a high-level
meeting held a few days ago.
Government employees and
officers have been asked to
strictly adhere to the order.
Earlier, the General Ad-
ministration Department had
directed employees to avoid
jeans, T-shirts and other “in-
use,” said a prominent RTI
activist from Vadodara, who
wished to remain anony-
mous.
The development has also
drawn criticism from human
rights advocates. They point
out that India already has a
worrying track record of at-
tacks and harassment against
RTI activists, with Gujarat be-
ing one of the worst affected
states.
“This action by the CID has
a chilling effect on the right to
information. It is essential to
ensure that legitimate RTI
use is not stifled under the
guise of investigation,” stated
another RTI activist from
Surat.
Whether the CID’s verifica-
tion drive is a genuine at-
tempt to investigate a poten-
tial network or a tactic to curb
RTI activism remains to be
seen. However, it has un-
doubtedly created an atmos-
phere of unease among RTI
activists in Gujarat.
Exhorting all forces to
work as one team to ensure
free and fair elections in the
border state, Special DGP
Shukla asked the BSF to use
drone detection technology to
counter the drone operations
at Punjab borders, which had
emerged as the new modus
operandi to smuggle drugs
from across the border. There
were 325 drone sightings
across the border in 2023, of
which 118 drones were suc-
cessfully recovered. Similarly,
26 drones had been recovered
in 2024 so far, it was officially
said.
Special DGP Shukla said
that security had been beefed
up across the state and Pun-
jab police had mobilised 75%
from district police and 50%
police force from other units
for deployment during elec-
tions.
issues faced by people."
This image of `Kejriwal be-
hind bars” was this past Sun-
day also put up on the stage of
the “Save Democracy” grand
rally organised by the INDIA
bloc of Opposition parties to
protest against the arrest of
Opposition party chief minis-
ters and leaders by central
agencies, working at the com-
mand of the BJP-led central
government. It was also seen at
the dais put up by the party on
Wednesday at its office from
where Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay
Singh addressed his supporters
following his release from jail
in the same liquor policy case
in which Kejriwal went to jail
on April 1. Upon his release,
Singh had also declared that
the day was not far when Kejri-
wal would be released.
Singh, who was restrained
by the SC bench, which grant-
ed him bail, from speaking
about the case, said upon his
release that “our leaders are
100 per cent honest and so at-
tempts to suppress them.
decent” attire in office, but
later on, the order was
amended and instead of men-
tioning jeans and T-shirt, the
word "dignified' has been in-
troduced.
Notably, Sudhansh Pant is
strictly against the wearing
of jeans and T-shirt in office,
and has gone to the extent of
reprimanding employees
found in the attire during his
sudden inspections of vari-
ous departments.
NATION
Centre asserts right to regulate industrial alcohol
NEW DELHI: The Centre told the Supreme Court
on Thursday that legislative power to levy excise
duty on alcohol not fit for human consumption but
meant for industrial use lies exclusively with them.
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024 A nine-judge constitution bench is examining the
issue of overlapping powers of the Centre and
states in production, manufacturing, supply and
regulation of industrial alcohol. A clutch of petitions
came before the bench after a seven-judge bench
ruled against the states.

Toddler pulled from

the jaws of death
7,500 trees cut for 16 km IN THE COURTYARD

Delhi riots: HC asks

RAJASHEKAR S /
BENGALURU
After 20 hours of contin-
uous operation a two-year-
old boy Satvik Satish Mu-
jagond who had accidental-
ly fallen into an abandoned
borewell was rescued in a
joint operation conducted
by the the fire department,
Karnataka State Disaster
Response Force (SDRF)
and the National Disaster
Response Force (NDRF).
The boy is said to be
healthy with bruises on his
body. He was taken to the
district government hospi-
tal for further examination
and treatment.
On Wednesday, Satvik
while playing at his home
in Lachnya village, in Vi-
jayapura district’s Indi
taluk, slipped headfirst
into a 16 feet deep aban-
doned borewell sinkhole.
The matter came to light
when someone heard the
child cry and immediately
informed the family. His
parents and neighbours
immediately informed the
district administration
and the police.
Rescue operations start-
ed with the fire
department personnel at
6.30 pm on Wednesday.
They were later joined by
the SDRF and NDRF per-
sonnel.
The rescue teams were
continuously supplying
oxygen through the pipe
for Satvik. When the oper-
ation reached its climax,
the personnel found that
Satvik was stuck between
two rocks. It took another
two hours to remove them
before they could safely re-
trieve the boy.
The entire village,
which borders Maharash-
tra, had gathered around
the rescue areas and erupt-
ed in joy as the boy was
pulled out from the
borewell.
The rescue operation
lasted for nearly 20 hours.
Chief Fire Officer (Hubbal-
li), Ravi Prasad told PTI
that the presence of hard
rocks was a major chal-
lenge faced by the team
while digging a parallel
trench to rescue the child.
The child was shifted to
the ambulance which was
on a standby immediately
taken to a taluk govern-
ment hospital.
He was later shifted to
the district government
hospital where the boy’s
health is being monitored,
district health officer Dr
Basavaraj said. He added
that the boy will be dis-
charged after two days.
"I was happy to see that
the wishes of the child's
family and millions of peo-
ple of the country have
come true. The little boy,
who had conquered death,
is back in the arms of his
parents,"Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah said.
Former chief minister
HD Kumaraswamy ex-
pressed happiness over the
successful rescue opera-
tion and congratulated the
rescue teams.
of Delhi-Dehradun e-way
Trees felled to make way for Ganeshpur-Dehradun section: RTI
PTI / NOIDA
As many as 7,575 trees have
been felled on a nearly 16-km-
long section of the Delhi-
Dehradun Expressway and
over 1.76 lakh are to be plant-
ed in compensation for it, ac-
cording to the National High-
ways Authority of India.
Of the felled trees on the
Ganeshpur-Dehradun section
of the project, 4,983 were in
Uttarakhand, while 2,592
were in Uttar Pradesh, the
NHAI said in response to a
query filed under provisions
of the Right To Information
(RTI) Act.
In the RTI query, Noida-
based social activist Amit
Gupta also sought to know
the status of replantation and
survival of trees on the 15.8-
km-long section of the Delhi-
Dehradun Expressway.
In his response, Pankaj Ku-
mar Mourya, the public infor-
mation officer-cum-project di-
rector, said 155 trees have
been translocated in Uttar
Pradesh and 121 of them have
30 monkeys
found dead
in water tank
AGENCIES / HYDERABAD
Around 30 monkeys were
found dead in a water tank in
Telangana's Nalgonda dis-
trict on Wednesday. Munici-
pal workers pulled out the
bodies of monkeys from the
water tank near Nagarjuna
Sagar under Nandikonda
Municipality.
The tank supplies
drinking water to 50 house-
holds in the district. The inci-
dent came to light after offi-
cials inspected the tank due
to interruption of water sup-
ply for the past three days.
HOW GREEN IS MY VALLEY
survived the translocation.
According to the compen-
satory afforestation scheme
submitted by the forest de-
partments of Uttar Pradesh
and Uttarakhand, 1,76,050
trees are to be planted by
them to make up for the
felling of 7,575 trees, the
NHAI said.
“Total Rs 3,60,69,780 have
been paid against compensa-
tory afforestation to forest de-
partments of UP and Uttarak-
hand by the NHAI,” it added.
Elephant kills two in
Telangana in two days
PTI / HYDERABAD
One more farmer died after
being allegedly attacked by a
wild elephant in Telangana
on Thursday a day after it
trampled another farmer to
death, forest department offi-
cials said.
On Wednesday, the male
tusker had strayed into Telan-
gana, crossing Pranahita riv-
er from neighbouring Maha-
rashtra, and allegedly at-
tacked a farmer who was
working on the outskirts of
Burepalli village in
Kumaram Bheem Asifabad
district .
According to the Ministry
of Road Transport and High-
ways (MoRTH), the 212 km-
long six-lane Delhi-Dehradun
Greenfield Access Controlled
Expressway is being built at a
cost of Rs 12,000 crore.
The expressway, which is
expected to cut travel time be-
tween Delhi and Dehradun to
two-and-a-half hours, is ex-
pected to open next year for
the public.
Divided into four sections,
this expressway is being con-
This is the first time that a
wild elephant has entered
Telangana, officials said.
They added that the state
doesn't have any wild tuskers.
Thursday’s incident oc-
curred in the victim's fields
near Kondapalli village in the
district at around 5am to 6am,
even as efforts to drive the
tusker away continued, offi-
cials said.
The forest officials have
cordoned off the entire area
to make sure that the
elephant does not enter the
village. Efforts are underway
to drive it away using fire-
crackers, they said.
structed starting from Delhi-
Mumbai Expressway near
Akshardham in Delhi, Shas-
tri Park, Khajuri Khas, EPE
interchange at Khekra in
Mandola, Baghpat, Shamli,
Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh to
Dehradun, Uttrakhand.
A 340-metre-long three-lane
tunnel is also being construct-
ed at Datkali, Dehradun at a
cost of Rs 1,995 crore, the min-
istry stated in an April 2023
statement about the project.
"Many special provisions
have been made in the con-
struction of the entire corri-
dor. In these, the route from
Ganeshpur to Dehradun has
been kept safe for wildlife.
There is a provision of 12-km
elevated road, six animal un-
derpasses, two elephant un-
derpasses, two major bridges
and 13 minor bridges," the
MoRTH said. It added that 113
VUP (Vehicular Under Pass-
es), 5 ROBs, 4 major bridges
and 62 bus shelters are being
constructed along with a 29
km elevated road and 16 en-
try-exit points.
Kerala men
return from
war zone
PTI / THIRUVANANTHAPURAM
Two persons from Kerala
who returned home safe af-
ter being recruited into the
Russian army by private
agencies narrated their har-
rowing experience in the
Russia-Ukraine war zone
and urged authorities to help
repatriate two others facing
similar circumstances.
Prince and David Muthap-
pan, two Thiruvananthapu-
ram residents, returned to
Kerala in the last two days.
Muthappan, who reached
Thiruvananthapuram after
giving his statement to Cen-
tral government agencies in
for status report
New Delhi: The Delhi
High Court on Thursday
asked the city police to in-
10 days.
The court was hearing a
public interest litigation by
form it about the status of Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind seek-
criminal cases pertaining ing setting up of Special In-
to the riots that broke out vestigation Team (SIT) to
in the national capital in hold an independent probe
February 2020. and said the SIT should be
The bench noted that ordered now for cases
over 750 FIRs were regis- where the chargesheet has
tered in the aftermath of not been filed.
the violence and the inves- The petitioner had ap-
tigation in 273 was still proached the HC in March
pending. It asked the Delhi 2020 seeking several reliefs,
Police to file a fresh status including preservation of
report on the cases within the CCTV footage.
Delhi HC dismisses plea seeking
ban on cross-gender massages
NEW DELHI: A Delhi HC bench noted that a single judge of
the HC is already seized of the matter challenging the validity
of Guidelines for Operation of Spas / Massage Centers in Delhi
issued by the Delhi government in 2021. A single judge Delhi
HC Bench Dec 2021 ordered the city’s municipal corporation
and Delhi police to conduct inspections and take necessary
steps to ensure that no spa is permitted to run without a valid
licence.
HC orders Rs5 lakh compensation
for acid attack survivors
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has mandated the
Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) to award Rs 5
lakhs compensation to each of two acid attack survivors for
the grave injuries and disfigurement they faced in a 2009
incident. Acknowledging the lifelong scars and suffering of
the victims, the court stressed the imperative to not
overlook the severe impact of the attack, despite the
inability to conclusively identify the assailants. The decision
was made alongside upholding the acquittal of two
individuals previously accused of the attack.
Prioritise cases against
lawmakers: Delhi HC
PTI / NEW DELHI
and Justice Manmeet PS Aro-
The Delhi High Court has ra transferred the cases from
asked its judges to give prior- the single judge concerned
ity to the criminal cases and directed the registry to
pending before them against re-allocate or re-distribute
members of Parliament those 34 cases to other courts
(MPs) and legislative assem- or benches for their expedi-
blies (MLAs) to ensure their tious disposal so that stay ap-
expeditious and effective dis- plications are disposed of ex-
posal. peditiously and trial of such
The high court was in- cases can conclude before the
formed by its registry that designated special courts.

360 pistol barrels seized Fear of leopard looms in TN town Delhi, said he never expect-
ed to return home alive.
presently there are 34 pend-
ing cases or appeals or revi-
“We also request all the
judges to refrain from ad-

by MP ATS in Surat
ANI / BHOPAL
The Madhya Pradesh Anti-
Terrorism Squad (ATS) has
claimed to have confiscated
360 barrels used in making
pistols from Surat, along with
the arrest of three persons for
their alleged involvement in
the illegal arms trade.
According to a release is-
sued by the ATS on Thursday,
the seizure was made on in-
formation gleaned from Sar-
nam Singh’s, one of the three
accused, interrogation.He ar-
rested from MP’s Barwani
district recently.
The statement said that the
accused temporarily stayed
in Surat’s Prabhu Nagar area
and supplied raw material
and barrels used to manufac-
ture illegal weapons in MP.
IANS / CHENNAI
Tension prevailed in the
Koorainadu area of Tamil
Nadu's Myladuthirai district
on Thursday after the local
people spotted a leopard.
Locals spotted the big cat
on Tuesday night after which
the forest department team
reached the area. However,
the animal remained elusive.
Nagapattinam District
Forest Officer, Abhishek
Tomar told IANS that leop-
ards normally emerge after
dark hence the department
plans to deploy a thermal im-
aging drone, that will be
brought from Dharmapuri,
to track the leopard.
While seven schools
around the town have been
closed, police protection has
been provided for four
schools where board exams
for tenth standard students
were taking place.
The forest department has
deployed ten field teams for
round-the-clock surveillance.
Tomar said that teams car-
ried out patrolling through
Wednesday night. Special po-
lice teams have also been de-
ployed.
A senior official told IANS
that they were puzzled how
the carnivore made its way to
the town, as there are no hills
or reserve forests anywhere
near the town.
Prince, arrived a day
earlier, said he was injured
and was admitted to a Russ-
ian hospital for over a
month. He said his friends,
Vineeth and Tinu, were still
in the war zone.
External Affairs Minister
S Jaishankar on Thursday
said that tough legal action
would be taken against the
recruitment agencies that
cheat aspirants with lucra-
tive offers and take them to
conflict zones abroad.
sions involving MPs and
MLAs before a single judge
bench of the high court in
which orders of stay of trial
have been passed and are
continuing for a period of
more than six months.
The high court was hear-
ing a case it had initiated on
its own (suo motu) about dis-
posal of criminal cases
against MPs and MLAs.
In the order passed on
April 2, a bench of Acting
Chief Justice Manmohan
journing the subject cases ex-
cept for rare and compelling
reasons,” the bench said. Ac-
cording to the present roster,
Justice Swarana Kanta Shar-
ma's court is the designated
special court in the high
court to deal with MPs and
MLAs cases.
On Thursday, Justice Shar-
ma said she could not such
cases as she had received a ju-
dicial order as per which cer-
tain cases had been trans-
ferred from the court.

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

It’s for LG or Prez...

The Bench, while refusing to venture in the matter,
observed that “the Governor is fully competent”
and “does not need our guidance”. It added that
he possesses the “discretion to take the call”. The
Bench also noted that as far as the issue of
“constitutional morality” was concerned it would
have to be considered by the L-G. “He will
consider it and the President,” it said, adding that
“they are the authorities” and that “everything
cannot be done by the courts”.
At this the counsel for Gupta said he would like to
withdraw the PIL and file a representation with
the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
The petition filed by Vishnu Gupta, who is the
president of an organisation named Hindu Sena,
had sought removal of Kejriwal citing his arrest in
the money laundering case connected to the Delhi
excise policy scam.
During the course of the hearing, the Bench also
reminded the petitioner that another Bench of the
court had also dismissed a similar PIL seeking
removal of Kejriwal from the post and so it could
not take a different view. The judges held that
there needs to be “some certainty in courts” and
that a precedent once laid has to be followed. “It
cannot be that one day we take one view and
another day we take a different view,” it
reasoned.
The earlier PIL seeking removal of Kejriwal as CM
was filed by one Surjit Singh Yadav, but it too was
dismissed by a bench of Justice Manmohan and
Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora on the ground that
there was no scope of judicial interference in the
matter and that “it is for the other wings of the
government to examine in accordance with the
law.”
"If the Chief Minister acts in a manner which
offends a rule of law and commits breach of the
constitutional trust reposed in him. In that
eventuality his dismissal from the office of Chief
Minister is inhibited in Article 164 of the
Constitution of India,’’ that PIL had argued.
It stated that apart from Kejriwal being in custody
of investigating agency, the provision of Articles
154, 162 and 163 are not been carried out by the
Government of NCT of Delhi with effect from
March 21, as no cabinet meetings are taking place
to aid and advice the Governor in exercise of his
executive functions.
Cong licks its...
Malviya stretched the ‘lick’ analogy further, “Who
will describe women thus? That is the most
disgusting description someone can come up with.
Just the other day, Surjewala’s colleague was
asking the ‘rate’ of another BJP woman leader,
and now this… This is Rahul Gandhi’s Congress. It
is misogynistic and abhors women.’’
Hema's response: Hema Malini, who filed her
nomination from Matuhra on Thursday, was asked
to comment on Surjewala's remarks. She
responded by merely saying, “Only those people
are targeted who have achieved something in
life.”
When asked why the Congress did not initiate
action against its leader, she said, "I don't know.
They should learn from our prime minister who
knows how to show respect to women."
Notice to Surjewala: The Haryana State
Commission for Women has, meanwhile, taken
suo motu cognisance of the media reports and
summoned Surjewala to appear before it on April
9.
Malviya also raised the issue of another Congress
leader Supriya Shrinate making uncharitable
comments about Kangana Ranaut soon after she
was declared BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from
Mandi.
Facts distorted: However, Surjewala denied any
wrongdoing and blamed the controversy on the
BJP's IT whiz kid’s penchant for getting into the
habit of “distorting facts and spreading lies so that
they could divert the attention of the country from
the anti-youth, anti-farmer and anti-poor policies
of the Modi Government which is also trying to
subvert the Constitution.”
Surjewala further alleged that “these pawns of the
BJP never asked the Prime Minister why he said
'50 crore ki girlfriend' in Himachal Pradesh;
described a woman MP as 'Surpanakha'; trolled a
woman chief minister; used the expression
'Congress's widow' and described the Congress
top leadership as a 'jersey cow'?”
The senior Congress leader said what he meant
was that the accountability of all elected
representative should be fixed, be it Haryana Chief
Minister Nayab Singh Saini, former CM Manohar
Lal Khattar or him, for that matter.
He also stated that “my intention was not to insult
Hema Malini ji or anybody else. That is why I
clearly said we respect Hema Malini ji and she is
our bahu.”
Rahul a victim of an...
Rahul Gandhi is always being “relaunched” as a
youth leader despite being more than 50 years
old. “I feel he is being pressured and is very
lonely,” Ranaut said. The Congress scion should
have been allowed to pursue some other
profession and could have tried his hand at acting,
she said.
“He could have become a good actor. His mother
is one of the richest women in the world. There is
no dearth of wealth. There have been rumours
that he is romantically involved with a woman,
but he is not getting married,” Ranaut said.
SC relief for Navneet...
The High Court had said records indicate that
Rana belonged to the “Sikh-Chamar” caste and
imposed a fine of Rs2 lakh on her.
A Supreme Court comprising Justices JK
Maheshwari and Sanjay Karol allowed an appeal
by Rana and said the High Court should not have
interfered with the report of the scrutiny
committee on the issue of caste certificate.
Rana, who had won the reserved Amravati
parliamentary seat as an independent candidate in
2019, recently joined the BJP.
Shiv Sena leader Anandrao Adsul had filed a
complaint with the Mumbai District Caste
Certificate Scrutiny Committee, which ruled in
Rana's favour and validated the certificate. He
then approached the high court where Adsul
contended that Rana obtained the certificate using
forged and fabricated documents obtained with
the help of her husband Ravi Rana, a member of
the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.
MAIN HOON NA!
The Bharatiya Janata Party is closely monitoring
the developments in Rae Bareli and is reportedly
considering nominating local stalwarts like Dinesh
Pratap Singh and former SP MLA Dr. Manoj
Pandey.
The reluctance of Congress leaders to engage with
the public and respond to queries had added to
the prevailing uncertainty. Party officials, who
were active post-Rahul Gandhi’s Nyaya Yatra, now
appear reticent.
Pradeep Singhal, Congress District President,
acknowledged the mounting pressure. "We are
diligently working on it," he promised, indicating
that there would be clarity soon on the electoral
picks.
The fifth phase of voting in Amethi and Rae Bareli
is scheduled for May 20.
SC refuses to modify...
The Nationalist Congress Party (Sharatchandra
Pawar), which has the “Man blowing turha”
symbol will also follow court orders and not use
the “clock” symbol, clarified the bench, also
comprising Justice KV Viswahathan, which was
hearing an application by the Sharad Pawar
faction alleging non-compliance of the March 19
interim direction.
The Ajit Pawar-led NCP on Thursday decided to
strictly adhere to the directives of the Supreme
Court to avoid any further legal battle. The party’s
state unit chief, Sunil Tatkare, at a meeting on
Thursday asked party workers up to the district
level to display bigger disclaimers in all
advertisements, templates, pamphlets, and
banners on the “clock” symbol to avoid being in
contempt of court, according to Deputy Chief
Minister Ajit Pawar.
CAA, related rules
“The party will take care to ensure that bigger
disclaimers are displayed on all advertisements
and poll-related materials. The city and district
brought to safeguard
units have been asked to strictly adhere to the
apex court’s order. They will also be told not to
use Sharad Pawar’s photos on the advertisements
rights of minorities
from Pak, Af, B’desh’
and banners,” said a senior NCP leader.
Tunnel traffic goes...
The driver and co-passenger were not injured. PTI / NEW DELHI (IUML) on various grounds.
There is minor damage to the vehicle. The driver "Applicant respectfully
of the vehicle had a learner’s licence and the co- The 2019 Citizenship submits that the writ peti-
passenger was the father of the driver”. (Amendment) Act (CAA) and tions (of IUML and others)
The coordinated response by the rescue team, the subsequent rules have challenging constitutional
police, and traffic marshals ensured that the been brought to safeguard the validity of the Citizenship
incident was swiftly handled and traffic flow was right to life, liberty and digni- Amendment Act 2019 are po-
maintained in the tunnel, averting potential ty of persecuted non-Muslim litically motivated and none
congestion. minorities from Pakistan, of their fundamental rights
Afghanistan and Bangladesh, are being violated by the Act.
said a fresh plea filed in the Hence, PILs are not maintain-
27 flyers, gold in... Supreme Court. able under Article 32 and may
“The en masse smuggling of contraband cigarettes While refusing to stay the be dismissed to save the pre-
worth Rs 3 crore and Rs 23 lakh in cash was operation of the Rules that cious time of the Court,"
busted by the DRI during the frisking of the would give effect to the CAA, Upadhyay said in his plea.
suspects. While the suspects were being a bench headed by Chief Jus- "Ever since the CAA came
questioned and fed with bananas and laxatives to tice D Y Chandrachud had on into effect, protesters have
retrieve the ingested gold tablets, a passenger March 19 asked the Centre to sought to intimidate the
feigned unconsciousness to divert attention, respond to the applications country by burning trains
creating chaos for the others to escape,” seeking a stay on the imple- and buses, pelting stones and
confirmed senior CISF official at Lucknow airport. mentation of the Citizenship attacking police. The propa-
According to senior Customs officers, the (Amendment) Rules, 2024 till ganda machine on social me-
sustained action against gold smuggling rackets the apex court disposes of the dia has been coordinating to
by the Mumbai Airport Customs leading to pleas challenging the consti- create an image of a nation in
seizures of gold concealed in body parts has led to tutional validity of the CAA. flames," it said.
carriers of contraband gold to use other smaller Meanwhile, lawyer Ashwi- It claimed the truth was,
airports to evade detection. ni Upadhyay has moved the however, totally different.
Last month, Mumbai Airport Customs seized top court with an application The anger is "just because
foreign currency and contraband gold worth Rs for making himself a party to a tiny bit of justice was given
10.60 crore in eight different cases at the the ongoing litigations on the to minorities of Afghanistan,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. CAA and its rules. Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The fresh plea, filed This can only be called
through lawyer Ashwani 'protests of entitlement' and
India accused of... Dubey, seeks dismissal of the definitely not guaranteed un-
The Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e- pending PILs of various peti- der Article 19 (freedom of
Mohammed had claimed responsibility for the tioners including the Indian speech and expression) of the
strike. In a response to the Guardian report, Union Muslim League Constitution," it said.
India’s ministry of external affairs denied all the
allegations, reiterating an earlier statement that
they were “false and malicious anti-India DELHI EXCISE SCAM CASE: K KAVITHA
propaganda”. The ministry emphasised a previous
denial made by India’s foreign minister, URGES COURT FOR INTERIM BAIL
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, that targeted killings in NEW DELHI: BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in the Delhi ex-
other countries were “not the government of cise policy scam case, urged a court here on Thursday for in-
India’s policy”. terim bail, claiming that her 16-year-old son has exams and
According to the report, intelligence sources have needs his mother's "moral and emotional support".
claimed that the targeted assassinations increased The court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja heard the submis-
significantly in 2023. sions made by the counsel appearing for Kavitha and the ED,
and reserved its order for Monday. —PTI
GOA MONDAY | AUGUST
Friday April 5, 202429, 2022

log on to thegoan.net @thegoanonline Facebook.com/thegoan The Goan E-Paper (Playstore/IOS) Instagram.com/thegoanonline

2 more arrested for links Dawn of new mining era in

Goa; Vedanta starts Ops
to Dabolim cash seizure BICHOLIM BLOCK IS THE FIRST AUCTIONED MINE
TO BECOME OPERATIONAL SINCE MARCH 2018
CASH OF `8 LAKH RECOVERED FROM 2 POLL OFFICERS THE GOAN I NETWORK

PANAJI Historic day for Goa: Sawant

THE GOAN I NETWORK
VASCO/PANAJI
Police investigations into the
reported rogue seizure of Rs
16 lakh by two election offi-
cials at Dabolim last Sunday
have led to the recovery of Rs
8 lakh, the arrest of two more
persons and the suspension of
two constables.
While the two poll officers,
Anirudha Pawar (41) and Ni-
tish Naik (34) were arrested
by police under Sections 419
and 384 of IPC on Wednes-
day night, two more persons
arrested in the case were Ke-
shav Khandvekar (48) and
one Chandan Yadav (37) of
Dabolim.
ARRESTS
According to police sourc-
es, while Keshav Khandvekar
was the driver attached to the
flying squad vehicle, Yadav,
who managed a fast food cen-
In what could give a major PANAJI: Ecstatic over the commencement
and Pawankumar Sharma, at push to Goa's economy, the
Two policemen placed under suspension
of mining in Goa, Chief Minister Pramod
Vales Junction, Dabolim on much awaited iron ore mining Sawant said it has revived the key eco-
Sunday evening. activities have commenced in nomic backbone of the State.
VASCO: South Goa SP Sunita Sawant on the office that he wanted leave to attend a "The police recovered Rs 4 the State after a gap of over six “I congratulate Vedanta for the com-
Thursday issued the suspension of two po- birthday of a relative and was granted holi- lakh in cash from Nitish Naik years, with M/s Vedanta Lim- mencement of mining in Bicholim. Due
licemen, Head Constable Vinayak Kalgutkar day and though he was not physically pres- and Rs 4 lakh in cash from ited starting operations of its to the ban since 2012, stakeholders,
and Constable Anand Naik, both attached to ent during the incident, he was expected to Aniruddha Pawar in the in- Mineral Block at Bicholim. people and the State of Goa faced many
the Vasco Railway Police station. report the case when he came on duty the cident. While the business- Bicholim Mineral Block hardships”, he said.
Sources in the police claimed that both next day which did not happen. The other men had complained that Rs -- comprising of Bordem, I wholeheartedly thank the union Government led by PM
the suspended police constables were policeman was present during the incident 16 lakh had been seized on Lamgao, Mulgao, Mayem and Shri @narendramodi Ji for continued support to resolve the
present in the flying squad vehicles and on but he also failed to report the incident and March 31, both the accused Sirigao villages -- is the first issue, he said.
election duty on March 31 when the incident they have now been facing disciplinary have informed Verna Police auctioned mine to become Stating that it was the consistent efforts of our govern-
is reported to have occurred. action and have been suspended,” said the that only Rs 8 lakh had been operational since March 2018, ment, Sawant said “we carried out a transparent process to
“One policeman had verbally informed source. seized in the incident,” said a following a blanket ban on auction the mining blocks in the state... with this not only
top source in Goa Police. mining by the Supreme Court. the State, but also stakeholders will benefit with enhanced
The Apex Court had quashed revenue”.
tre, was allegedly the inform- JMFC court in Vasco. source. REPERCUSSIONS the second renewals granted Increased revenues will lead to enhanced ability to in-
ant who provided information "The four accused were A top election official has to all 88 mining leases, direct- vest more in welfare schemes, infrastructure development
of the two Delhi-based busi- produced before the JMFC RECOVERY admitted that none of the pro- ing the State to opt for auction and take the State towards Viksit Goa, he added.
nessmen and the cash that but their lawyers had already Verna police on Thursday cedures mandated in cases of mode.
they were carrying to Nitish moved for their bail and all recovered Rs 8 lakh in cash cash seizures during election The mineral block, with an
Naik, who pulled off the sei- the four accused were grant- from Nitish Naik and Anirud- time were followed in the Da- area of 478.5206 ha is located by Consent to Operate by the "Heralding a new era of in-
zure while impersonating as ed conditional bail and each dha Pawar, two poll officers bolim case which has embar- in Bicholim is the only block Goa State Pollution Control clusive development, Vedanta
Income-Tax officer while be- person has been directed to who were suspended and lat- rassed the entire machinery in that has been granted Envi- Board. Sesa Goa commenced mining
ing on election duty. give one surety, to deposit er arrested on charges of ille- the State. ronment Clearance (EC) by The mineral block has got operations at Bicholim Miner-
All four persons involved in Rs 20,000 and be present for gally seizing cash from two “The incident could the Union Ministry for Envi- permission for production of al Block -- Block 1 in the State
the incident were arrested and investigation as and when Delhi-based real estate busi- ronment, Forest and Climate three million tonnes per an-
were later granted bail by a called by the police," said the nessmen, Ashok Chaudhary read more on thegoan.net Change (MoEF&CC), followed num (MPTA) of iron ore. read more on thegoan.net

Contempt notices on ‘parade Fishermen pin hope on

and pose’ stunt spurs debate CM’s assurance over
OFFICIALS POINT TO CASES WHERE VICTIMS PERSONALLY
VISIT POLICE STATION TO VERIFY ARREST OF ACCUSED
THE GOAN I NETWORK
PANAJI
The contempt notice from the
Bombay High Court at Goa re-
garding the 'parade and pose'
stunt might have certainly
prompted some police offi-
cials to reassess their actions;
however, it has also sparked a
debate about the necessity of
revealing the accused, albeit
with muffled face.
In cases where it is crucial to
reassure the crime victim that
accused has been arrested,
such as in instances of rape,
there have been occasions
where victims personally visit
the police station to verify the
arrest of the accused.
A senior police officer high-
lighted several cases, espe-
cially in instances of rape,
where victims personally visit
the police station to confirm
the arrest. “In numerous cas-
es such as rape, robbery, and
other serious offenses, victims
are adamant until they are
personally assured that the
accused is taken into custo-
dy. Hence, we photograph the
accused, although by keeping
their faces muffled, until the
completion of the test identi-
5K prawn hatchery land
POINTS OF CONCERN
„„In cases such as rape, robbery and other serious offens-
es victims are adamant until they are personally assured
that the accused is taken into custody
„„The purpose of parading the accused is not to shame,
humiliate or violate their human rights, but to reassure the
The defunct Benaulim prawn hatchery.
victim that police action is indeed taken
„„FROM THE FILES: In 2019, the HC Bench had directed THE GOAN I NETWORK fishermen.
PI Kapil Nayak and SI Amin Naik -- then posted at Mapusa “When we raised the is-
MARGAO sue of the Benaulim prawn RISKY MOVES: Bike riders navigate heavy traffic with reckless manoeuvers on the
-- to compensate a woman with Rs 30,000 and Rs 10,000 congested Porvorim highway on Thursday.  Narayan Pissurlenkar
Is the Goa government open hatchery, the Chief Minister
respectively for having violated her human and fundamen- in conceding the demand of has promised that the gov-
tal rights to privacy and dignity with impunity Benaulim traditional fisher- ernment would consider the
men to hand over a portion of demand of the traditional
fication parade,” the officer
explained while speaking to
The Goan.
officers including Superinten-
dent of Police Bossuet Silva.
While majority of them were
the property housing the de-
funct Benaulim prawn hatch-
ery to meet the needs and
fishing communities to hand
over land admeasuring 5,000
sq mtrs of the defunct prawn
Booster for Goa; request for joint
According to the Evidence
Act and Supreme Court rul-
ings, particularly concerning
rape cases, it is mandatory
photographed alongside a
mother who had been arrest-
ed for abandoning her child,
the SP was photographed
requirements of the fishing
communities?
When a delegation of fish-
ermen under the banner of
hatchery for the fishermen,”
Pele said.
While thanking the Chief
Minister for the assurance,
Mhadei basin inspection okayed
to conceal the face of the ac- with an accused in a drug sei- Niz Ramponkarancho Ekvott Pele has hoped that the Chief THE GOAN I NETWORK their flexibility, to conduct the Karnataka, we had written to
cused in public until the test zure operation. called on Chief Minister Pra- Minister’s promise is translat- inspection. the Authority demanding for a
identification parade. Fail- While acknowledging the mod Sawant to oppose the ed into action by the Fisheries PANAJI Speaking to The Goan, joint inspection at Kankumbi,
ure to adhere to this guide- High Court’s authority, an- proposed plan to increase Department at the earliest. The Mhadei Progressive River Minister for Water Resourc- where the neighbouring State
line results in ineffective test other officer emphasized that water sports zones along the “The fishermen had staked Authority for Water and Har- es (WRD) Subhash Shirod- had taken up work to diver the
identification parade wherein the purpose of parading the Salcete beach belt, fisherman claim on land admeasuring mony (PRAWAH) has accept- kar said that State has re- flow of monsoonal water of
this crucial exercise becomes accused is not to shame, hu- Pele Fernandes raised the is- 5,000 sq mtrs at the defunct ed Goa Government's request ceived a communication from Mhadei river towards the Kal-
meaningless and the accused miliate, or violate their hu- sue of the cold shoulder by prawn hatchers to anchor for a joint inspection to study PRAWAH, two days back, asa,” he said.
can take advantage of it. man rights; but to reassure the Fisheries Department to traditional fishing boats the Mhadei river basin. How- wherein they have agreed to “Two days back we got
The Division Bench of Jus- the victim that police action is the long-standing demand during the monsoons and to ever, it has asked all three conduct a joint site inspection a communication from
tice Mahesh Sonak and Justice indeed taken. of the Benaulim fishermen set up cold storage facility riparian States -- Goa, Karna- of Mhadei river basin. PRAWAH that it has written
Valmiki Menezes on Tuesday to hand over a portion of the taka and Maharashtra -- to “Last month, following
issued contempt notices to six read more on thegoan.net hatchery land for the local read more on thegoan.net communicate the dates, as per commencement of work by read more on thegoan.net

GSAI wants policy reforms, Tiswadi key battleground for Cong’s hopes in N Goa
tax exemption for seafarers THE GOAN I NETWORK

PANAJI
FACT CHECK: HAPPY HUNTING GROUND
„„Tiswadi still holds elec- been happy ground for seat, Tiswadi's electorate
three of the five seats --
Atanasio Monserrate (St Cruz),
Jennifer Monserrate (Taleigao)

Interacts with DG Shipping on issues and challenges
THE GOAN I NETWORK
MARGAO
The Goan Seamen Associa-
tion of India (GSAI) has high-
lighted the issues and chal-
lenges faced by the seafarers
with the Director General of
Shipping and Deputy Direc-
tor, Shipping with a plea to
address the problems by the
community at the earliest in-
cluding exemption from pay-
ment of income tax.
During an online interac-
tion with Directorate General
of Shipping Shyam Jaganna-
than, Secretary of the Direc-
tor General of Shipping, and
Daniel Joseph Deputy Di-
T
he odds are stacked
against the Congress in
the North Goa Parliamen-
CONCERNS OF SEAMEN tary seat won five successive
times for the ruling Bharati-
„„Providing 2GB of free internet access per month on board ya Janata Party (BJP) by the
the ship, flight tickets up to the hometown while signing off incumbent Shripad Naik, who
„„Double overtime pay for working on holidays and Sun- is re-nominated for the May 7
days, transparent medical plans/benefits election.
Yet, the 'grand old party'
„„Appointment of Seafarer Relation Officers (SRO) by every cannot be written off and
RPSL company doing well in Tiswadi, where it
„„All Indian seafarers should be exempted from income tax has retained its electoral shine
despite the series of succes-
or give relaxation to 120 days instead of 183 days working sive desertions by its MLAs
on Indian and foreign-going vessels from here since 2012, could be
crucial to its dwindling hopes
rector General of Shipping, cerns such as providing 2GB of remaining in the hunt for the
GSAI president Frank Viegas of free internet access per North Goa seat.
discussed a host of issues as month on board the ship, The central taluka accounts
a follow up and also policy flight tickets up to the home- for a fifth of the North Goa
matters affecting seafarers. seat having five assembly
The GSAI highlighted con- read more on thegoan.net segments -- Panaji, Taleigao,
toral shine for Congress
despite series of suc-
cessive desertions by its
MLAs from here since 2012
„„Voting patterns in par-
liamentary elections differ
from those in Assembly
elections
„„Tiswadi as a whole has
been the pocket of the
North Goa seat that has
St Cruz, St Andre and Cumb-
harjua. Currently, the Congress
holds none of these five seats,
the BJP has four MLAs and St
Andre is represented by Viresh
Borkar of the nascent Revolu-
tionary Goans Party.
This BJP four, RGP one and
Congress even in national
elections
„„The central taluka
accounts for a fifth of the
North Goa seat having
five assembly segments --
Panaji, Taleigao, St Cruz, St
Andre and Cumbharjua
„„In 2009, the closest
the Congress or its ally
came to clinching the
Congress nil scenario in Tiswa-
di, however, is aided by the
September 2022 defections
of two Congress MLAs -- Ru-
dolf Fernandes (St Cruz) and
Rajesh Faldesai (Cumbharjua)
-- into the BJP. Just six months
prior to this defection the
ended up giving Jitendra
Deshprabhu a nearly
8,000-vote lead
„„Shripad ended up
winning that election by
a slender 4000-odd vote
lead
„„Ensuing Lok Sabha
election on May 7 could be
no different
Tiswadi score card at the 2022
assembly elections in March
that year read: Congress two,
BJP two and RGP 1.
Even in its worst outing
in 2012, the Congress had
emerged electorally ahead
of the BJP in Tiswadi winning
and Pandurang Madkaikar
(Cumbharjua). The BJP had
won the other two with the
late Manohar Parrikar winning
Panaji and the late Vishnu
Wagh bagging St Andre.
Five years later in 2017,
the Congress again emerged
ahead of the BJP in Tiswadi
winning Taleigao (Jennifer), St
Cruz (Antonio Fernandes) and
St Andre (Francis Silveira).
Voting patterns in parlia-
mentary elections indeed
differ from those in Assembly
elections but Tiswadi as a
whole has been the pocket of
the North Goa seat that has
been happy ground for the
Congress even in the national
elections.
read more on thegoan.net
GUJARAT
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
Kamati Baug
Joy Train
back on track
FPJ NEWS SERVICE/ VADODARA
Thousands of Vadodara resi-
dents flock to Kamati Baug
every day, drawn to its
diverse attractions. One of
the park's most beloved fea-
tures, the Joy Train, has been
silent since the Harni boat ac-
cident in January. However,
there's great news for park-
goers! The train is set to chug
back into action on April 5.
Following the Harni inci-
dent, safety protocols were
tightened, and all
amusement rides in the city
were temporarily closed. Op-
erations could only resume
after necessary government
clearances. Himanshu Soni,
the Joy Train's manager, con-
firmed with delight that the
train had been given the
green light to resume service.
"We're thrilled to share this
positive update with our visi-
tors," said Soni. "The
required documents have
been submitted, and after a
thorough cleaning and main-
tenance session today, the
train will be ready to roll
again tomorrow."
The Joy Train's return was
approved after a review of
documents and with regular
inspections to follow.
Rupala’s remarks sparks
Kshatriya-Patidar divide
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / RAJKOT
The political turmoil sur-
rounding Union Minister
Parshottam Rupala in Gu-
jarat has ignited a clash of
sentiments between the
Kshatriya and Patidar com-
munities in Rajkot.
Despite Rupala's public
apologies for his contentious
remarks, the Kshatriya com-
munity remains resolute in
their demand for the cancella-
tion of his candidacy for the
Rajkot Lok Sabha seat. In a
counter move, the Patidars in
Rajkot have rallied behind
their community leader,
Parshottam Rupala.
A meeting convened by
trustees and leaders of
prominent Patidar organiza-
tions took place in Rajkot,
aimed at strategizing the way
forward. Hosted at a factory
premises owned by a Patidar
leader in Shapar, on the out-
skirts of Rajkot city, the gath-
ering discussed the future
course of action in support of
Rupala.
In a visible display of sup-
port, approximately 200
posters endorsing Rupala
32-yr-old manager
of bank commits
suicide in Kapodara Surat shimmers with lab-grown diamond expo
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / SURAT
A 32-year-old man, Rakesh
Navapariya, employed as a
manager with the Bandhan
Bank at Surat’s Kapodara
branch, was found dead in his
residence on Thursday morn-
ing. He was found hanging
from a ceiling fan, an appar-
ent suicide.
Navapariya, a resident of
Sukhsagar apartment in
Kapodara, left behind a sui-
cide note written in Gujarati
which read, “Sorry… brother,
my one mistake caused a lot
of problems for you all. Take
care of my sister-in-law, and
mother, and I will miss Vamsi
a lot.”
The Kapodra police have
Rupala gets clean
chit over remarks
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / RAJKOT
The controversy surrounding
the remarks made by
Parshottam Rupala, the
Union Minister for Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry and
Dairying, approximately two
weeks ago, has taken a new
turn with the report submit-
ted by Rajkot district election
officer (DEO) Prabhav Joshi
to Gujarat chief electoral offi-
cer P Bharathi on Tuesday
evening.
Rupala’s comments
sparked statewide debate and
prompted demands from the
Kshatriya community for his
withdrawal as a candidate
from the Rajkot seat despite
the minister apologising
thrice. However, they do not
contravene the Model Code
of Conduct (MCC), according
to the report by Joshi.
A complaint regarding a
potential violation of the
MCC by Rupala was lodged
last week, additional chief
electoral officer Kuldeep
Arya said. The complaint was
forwarded to the Rajkot DEO
have been put up in Ambika
township in Rajkot. Addition-
ally, around 200 individuals
associated with the Rajkot
Youth Club have expressed
their solidarity with Rupala's
candidacy for the Rajkot Lok
Sabha seat.
Narendra Solanki, former
corporator of the Rajkot Mu-
nicipal Corporation (RMC)
and now the Mahant of
Apagiga Otla, stepped for-
ward to appeal to the Ksha-
triya community for forgive-
ness towards Rupala.
At a meeting convened by
the Rajkot Youth Club, attend-
ed by over 200 members of so-
ciety, President Jignesh
registered the case as an acci-
dental death and have
launched an investigation.
The deceased hailed from
Babra taluka in Amreli dis-
trict in the Saurashtra
region. He was unmarried
and lived with his brother
and sister-in-law at Kapodara,
with a seemingly stable posi-
tion at Bandhan Bank.
Navapariya also revealed
in the note that he had a life
insurance cover of Rs 20 lakh
with Bandhan Bank, an acci-
dental death cover of Rs 20
lakh with SBI, and insurance
on the HDFC bank home
loan.
The police have begun a
thorough investigation into
the matter.
for investigation, he said.
In his report, Joshi out-
lined three main points that
elucidate why Rupala's re-
marks did not transgress the
MCC.
First, the speech in ques-
tion was delivered at a
private event and not during
an election rally, mitigating
concerns regarding the tim-
ing and context of the re-
marks. Second, Rupala's
speech did not explicitly ref-
erence any particular caste
or community. Instead, he
used terms such as 'Mahara-
ja', which are not inherently
Kalavadia announced unani-
mous support for Rupala, em-
phasizing his commitment to
the development of the re-
gion. Kalavadia further dis-
closed plans for a larger as-
sembly of over 10,000 individ-
uals in the near future.
Former BJP corporator of
the Rajkot Municipal Corpo-
ration, now Mahant of Otla
of Apagiga, Narendra Bapu,
highlighted Rupala's multiple
apologies to the Kshatriya
community, citing it as an un-
precedented mistake in his
four-decade-long political ca-
reer. Bapu urged the Ksha-
triya community to demon-
strate magnanimity and for-
give Rupala for his transgres-
sion.
The escalating tensions be-
tween the Kshatriya and Pati-
dar communities underscore
the deep-rooted divisions
within Gujarat's political
landscape. As the controversy
persists, the coming days are
poised to witness intensified
rhetoric and mobilization ef-
forts from both sides, shaping
the dynamics of the upcom-
ing elections in Rajkot and be-
yond.
Antwerp diamond trade
rebounds after delays
MELVYN THOMAS / SURAT
Indian diamantaires have
heaved a sigh of relief as
trade of rough diamonds in
Antwerp, the world's leading
diamond trading center, has
recovered after a slowdown
caused by stricter customs
checks following the EU and
G7 ban on Russian rough dia-
monds. Earlier, diamond
traders faced delays of 15-20
days for clearance of rough
diamond parcels from vari-
ous countries.
The slowdown stemmed
from increased scrutiny of
rough diamonds entering the
market to prevent the import
of sanctioned Russian stones,
which resulted in a backlog
at Antwerp's Diamond Office,
the dedicated customs center
for the industry. Responding
to a presentation by industry
representatives highlighting
the issue, the Belgian govern-
LAST WORD
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / SURAT
The Southern Gujarat Cham-
ber of Commerce and Indus-
try (SGCCI) is poised to make
history with the inaugural
Lab-Grown Diamond and
Jewellery Expo.
The expo, which will be
held in partnership with the
Surat Lab-Grown Diamond
Association, will transform
the Surat International Exhi-
bition and Convention Centre
at Sarsana into a dazzling
showcase of lab-grown bril-
liance.
The two-day B2B event,
scheduled to kick off on May
4, promises to be a
captivating experience for
buyers across Gujarat and In-
linked to any specific group.
Third, the content of
Rupala's speech did not pro-
mote or incite violence,
thereby aligning with the
MCC's stipulations on main-
taining peace and order.
Despite the report's conclu-
sion that Rupala's remarks
did not breach the MCC, the
course of action regarding
the matter remains undeter-
mined. The report's findings
may influence subsequent
decisions regarding any fur-
ther investigation or discipli-
nary action in connection
with the controversy.
The Rajkot DEO's report
brings some clarity to the
contentious issue, providing
insights into the legal and
regulatory framework gov-
erning election-related dis-
course. However, it also un-
derscores the complex nature
of political communication
and the importance of up-
holding ethical standards in
public discourse,
particularly in the charged
atmosphere of an election
campaign.
Amid row, minister
exudes confidence
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
Union Minister Parshottam
Rupala, who returned to
Ahmedabad on Thursday af-
ter attending an Union cabi-
net meeting in New Delhi, ex-
pressed confidence in his con-
tinued support from various
communities, including the
Kshatriyas.
Rupala's remarks came
amid the ongoing controversy
surrounding his candidature
for the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat,
with the Kshatriya communi-
ty demanding his removal.
Despite facing pressure
from various quarters,
Rupala appeared unfazed.
The minister contended that
he enjoys support from all
communities, including the
Kshatriyas. However, he re-
frained from disclosing the
names of specific Kshatriya
leaders supporting him,
citing a desire to avoid escalat-
ing tensions further. Instead,
he reiterated his trust in the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leadership to handle the mat-
ter effectively.
“I can name all the Ksha-
ment allocated additional
personnel to the customs de-
partment specifically for han-
dling rough diamond parcels.
The action has significantly
improved clearance times,
with parcels cleared within a
day.
This ban on Russian rough
diamonds was a key measure
implemented by EU and G&
countries in response to the
Russia-Ukraine War, and cre-
ated ripples in the Antwerp
diamond market. While the
delays have subsided, con-
cerns about circumventing
the sanctions remain.
The US, Canada, Japan,
UK, France, Germany, Italy,
among other countries have
imposed a complete ban on
Russian rough diamonds.
Belgium has further imple-
mented a special tracking
system, "iGlass," to monitor
the movement of rough dia-
monds and prevent them
dia. Exquisite lab-grown dia-
mond jewellery, alongside
sparkling loose diamonds,
will take center stage, attract-
ing discerning eyes from all
Dispute over Law Garden food vendors’ trade settled after 5 years
Ahmedabad: A five-year legal battle between evicted Law Garden
food vendors and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC)
reached a conclusion on Wednesday. The dispute involved 36 street
vendors who were displaced from Khau Gali in 2019 as part of the
area's beautification project.
Hookah bars
under police
scanner
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
The Prevention of Crime
Branch (PCB) of Ahmedabad
city police has clamped down
on hookah bars operating il-
legally in the city, conducting
a raid on a cafe on Shela Road
late Wednesday night.
The raid, taking place
around 3 am, targeted the Big
Daddy cafe, suspected of op-
erating a hookah bar in viola-
tion of local laws.The police
seized approximately 40
hookahs, various flavoured
tobacco products, and related
paraphernalia. Samples of
the confiscated hookahs have
been sent to the Forensic Sci-
ence Laboratory (FSL) to test
for nicotine, the use of which
is prohibited in the state.
The raid, likely to be the
first of many of a systemat-
ic crackdown on illegal
hookah bars, comes in re-
sponse to complaints lodged
by residents.
Pointing towards opera-
tions in affluent areas of
Ahmedabad, including Sind-
hu Bhavan Road and Shela
Road, establishments raised
concerns about public health
and safety due to the potential
presence of nicotine.
triya leaders who are
standing with me, but do not
want to add fuel to the fire.
Our party leaders are engag-
ing with the Kshatriya
leaders and I trust their judg-
ment in resolving the situa-
tion,” Rupala said.
The minister’s composed
demeanor and unwavering
confidence in the BJP leader-
ship signal the party's resolve
to stand by his candidacy for
the Rajkot Lok Sabha seat. De-
spite calls from some quarters
for his removal, BJP leaders
in Gujarat and New Delhi re-
main steadfast in their sup-
port for Rupala, expressing
optimism about winning over
the trust of the Kshatriya
community in due course.
“I have addressed the con-
cerns of the Kshatriya com-
munity from public platforms
and I believe I have done
everything within my capaci-
ty. Now, I leave it to the BJP
leaders to handle the
situation and ensure a
favourable outcome,”
asserted Rupala, emphasizing
his proactive approach in ad-
dressing the issues raised by
the community.
from being polished and
enter other markets through
indirect channels.
Concerns about Russian
rough diamonds smuggled
through other countries per-
sist among the Belgians, and
a particular worry is them en-
tering major markets
through India, a major dia-
mond polishing center.
Diamond traders have also
been rumoured to set up al-
ternative supply lines
through Belarus and Arme-
nia, bordering Belgium.
These details have been
shared with the G7 countries
and the EU, raising concerns
about the potential for future
loopholes.
This development offers a
sigh of relief for the industry
but the underlying issue of
circumventing the ban on
Russian rough diamonds re-
mains a challenge, as the Rus-
sia-Ukraine war continues.
corners of the country.
The expo marks a signifi-
cant milestone for Surat, a
city traditionally synony-
mous with natural diamonds.
Contract change prompts
strike at SVP Hospital
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
More than 150 housekeeping
staff members at the SVP Hos-
pital, Ahmedabad, went on
strike protesting a sudden
change in their employment
contracts on Thursday.
The workers, previously
employed by Sinduri Faber, al-
lege they were laid off
overnight after the hospital
awarded the new housekeep-
ing contract to Vishwa Enter-
prises.
“We've been working here
under Sinduri Faber since
2018, even throughout the
challenging Covid-19 period.
We deserve better treatment,”
contended Seemaben, a strik-
ing employee.
“The hospital administra-
tion didn't inform us about the
contract change, which legally
requires a two-month notice.
Additionally, despite our dedi-
cated service for more than six
months, none of us have been
offered permanent positions,”
Seemaben said.
The strike gained political
attention, with Bharat Mak-
wana, the Congress candidate
CID summons over 300
Gujarat RTI activists
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
The Gujarat Crime Investiga-
tion Department (CID) on
Wednesday sparked concern
among RTI activists in the
state by summoning over 300
individuals to verify and as-
certain credentials and pur-
poses behind their RTI appli-
cations. The summon comes
in the wake of alleged extor-
tion charges against Ahmed-
abad-based RTI activist Ma-
hendra Patel.
The CID issued the sum-
mons under Section 91 of the
Criminal Procedure Code,
which grants the power to
summon individuals to pro-
duce documents or materials
relevant to an investigation.
Reportedly, the activists sum-
moned were connected to
Mahendra Patel through so-
cial media.
"We have decided to proac-
tively verify the credentials
of around 300 other RTI ac-
tivists and also ascertain the
purposes for which they uti-
lized the information ob-
tained from various depart-
ments," stated Superinten-
Hospital pioneers
mobile lab reports
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
GANDHINAGAR
Gandhinagar Civil Hospital, a
leading medical institution
under the Gujarat Medical
Education and Research Soci-
ety (GMERS), is set to imple-
ment a first-of-its-kind initia-
tive in government-run hospi-
tals across the state. The hos-
pital will soon launch a lab in-
tegrated system that will de-
liver test results directly to pa-
tients' and doctors' mobiles,
significantly accelerating
treatment processes.
This innovative system en-
compasses microbiology,
pathology, and biochemistry
laboratories, offering a com-
prehensive range of diagnos-
tic testing. To facilitate this in-
tegration, the hospital will be
equipped with new equip-
ment. The software upgrade
required is nearing comple-
tion and will encompass both
In recent years, Surat has un-
dergone a remarkable trans-
formation, rising to the fore-
front of the global lab-grown
diamond industry. This vi-
brant city now boasts expert-
ise in all aspects of lab-grown
diamonds, from creation in
sophisticated laboratories to
meticulous manufacturing.
The stall allotment event,
held at the Orange Interna-
tional Hotel in Surat, wit-
nessed the presence of key
figures like Babubhai
Vaghani, President of the
Lab-Grown Diamond Associ-
ation, and Haresh Narola, the
association's vice-president.
As of now, 60 per cent of stalls
have been booked by lab-
grown diamond and jewellery
As a resolution, the AMC offered the vendors alternative space near
Gujarat College. This, and a guarantee against future displacement
from the new location, prompted the vendors to withdraw their
appeals in the Gujarat High Court. Remarkably, the vendors are still
eligible to participate in the AMC's upcoming auction at Law Garden.
for Ahmedabad West Lok Sab-
ha, joining the protest. Mak-
wana criticized the ruling
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
government stating, “The BJP
shirks responsibility every-
where. They rely on contract-
based hiring for all positions,
from consultants to cleaning
staff. These contracts are then
awarded to their own support-
ers.”
“Today, the women of SVP
Hospital are striking because
they've been left in the dark
about their employer. They
are treated like discarded
waste after years of service.
Some employees have been
here since 1995! They deserve
permanent positions. How
dent of Police CID (Crime)
Mukesh Patel.
Coming in the wake of the
extortion charges filed
against RTI activist Mahin-
dra Patel, the summon raises
questions about potential in-
timidation tactics against
those exercising their right to
information under the RTI
Act. Activists and human
rights advocates have dis-
played concern over the
crackdown.
"The timing and the scale
of this verification drive
raise concerns. It is crucial to
distinguish between genuine
RTI activism and any mis-
use," said a prominent RTI
activist from Vadodara, who
wished to remain anony-
indoor and OPD departments.
"State-of-the-art services
are already being provided at
Gandhinagar Civil Hospital,"
remarked Dr. Niyati Lakhani,
Superintendent of the hospi-
tal. "This new lab integrated
system represents another
step towards improved effi-
ciency. Patients undergoing
treatment and diagnosis,
whether admitted or visiting
OPD, will receive their test re-
sults within minutes on their
phones, allowing doctors to
swiftly initiate appropriate
treatment plans." She assured
patients that the software will
be operational soon. "Depend-
ing on the complexity of the
tests, reports will be available
online within one to four
hours", she added. "This
translates to a time saving of
at least 30 minutes for pa-
tients, allowing doctors to fo-
cus on delivering timely and
effective care."
entrepreneurs, underlining
the immense potential of the
expo.
Beyond showcasing exqui-
site jewellery and loose dia-
monds, the expo will cater to a
comprehensive range of in-
dustry segments. Visitors can
expect to explore Lab-Grown
Diamond Manufacturers,
Gold Jewellery, Diamond Jew-
ellery, Gemstones Jewellery,
Antique Jewellery, Laboratory
Equipment, Supporting Serv-
ices, and Ancillary and Ma-
chinery segments.
This diverse exhibitor
landscape ensures a one-
stop destination for buyers
to connect with every facet
of the diamond and jew-
ellery industry.
long will this exploitative con-
tract system continue?” the
Congress leader asked.
Makwana further warned
the Gujarat government and
the Ahmedabad Municipal
Corporation (AMC) that “If
this behavior continues, the
agitation will escalate. Not
only fourth-class employees,
but also second and third-class
employees will join the strike."
The strike has disrupted
hospital operations, raising
concerns about hygiene and
sanitation. Negotiations be-
tween the protesting staff, hos-
pital administration, and po-
tentially the new contractor
are underway to resolve the
situation.
mous.
"This action by the CID has
a chilling effect on the right
to information. It is essential
to ensure that legitimate RTI
use is not stifled under the
guise of investigation," an-
other RTI activist from Surat
chimed in.
The CID in January filed
four extortion cases against
Mahendra Patel under rele-
vant sections of the Indian
Penal Code (IPC) pertaining
to extortion and criminal in-
timidation. Patel allegedly
used information obtained
via RTI to threaten a school
in Surat with license cancel-
lation and subsequently ex-
torted Rs66 lakh in the
process.
Bhagwat plans
visit amid
tensions in BJP
FPJ NEWS SERVICE /
AHMEDABAD
Political tensions within the
Gujarat BJP camp have
reached a crescendo with the
impending visit of Rashtriya
SwayamSevak Sangh (RSS)
Chief Mohan Bhagwat. The
Chief ’s upcoming arrival
comes against a backdrop of
escalating factionalism, par-
ticularly
in con-
stituen-
cies like
Vadodara
and
Bharuch.
Bhag-
wat’s
three-day visit is scheduled
from April 6th to April 8th,
with the RSS Chief set to ar-
rive in Vadodara on Saturday,
6th April, and engage in an
interaction session with in-
tellectuals in Bharuch from
3:30 to 6:00 pm.
The RSS Chief is slated to
arrive in Vadodara on Satur-
day, 6th April, followed by an
interaction session with in-
tellectuals in Bharuch from
3:30 to 6:00 pm.
On April 7, Bhagwat is
scheduled to visit the Dutt
Mandir at Garudeshwar for
darshan in the morning fol-
lowed by another meeting
with intellectuals in Vado-
dara during the afternoon
from 3:30 to 6:00 pm. Later,
he will proceed to Karnavati
for an overnight stay and de-
parture on the morning of
April 8.
The timing of Bhagwat's
visit assumes significance
noting the escalating
tensions within the Gujarat
BJP. The recent protests by
the Kshatriya community
against Union Minister
Parshottam Rupala have fur-
ther heightened political ten-
sions, adding to the complex-
ity of the situation.
Vasastu changes made at Telangana Bhavan
HYDERABAD: The opposition BRS party has made some vaastu
changes at it’s headquarters in Banjara Hills . The changes were made in
the wake of the defeat of the party in the last year’s assembly elections
and subsequent desertion several important leaders of the party. The party
‘JANA GARJANA SABHA TO SET
DIRECTION FOR COUNTRY’
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti
Vikramarka said the Con-
gress party's Jana Garjana
Sabha, which is scheduled to
be held at Tukkuguda in Ran-
gareddy district on April 6,
will set a direction for the
country.
Bhatti Vikramarka on
Thursday inspected arrange-
ments for the Jana Garjana
Sabha at Tukkuguda and
asked the party cadre to take
all steps to ensure the success
of meeting.
Speaking to the media on
the occasion, the Deputy
Chief Minister said the AICC
leaders would give a message
to the nation after releasing
the party's manifesto for the
Lok Sabha elections and the
Jana Garjana Sabha would
set the direction for the coun-
try on that day.
"The Congress government
in Telangana is
implementing guarantees
‘Democratic system in BRS party’s
rule was completely corrupted’
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Union Minister and BJP state
president Kishan Reddy
today addressed a press con-
ference at the Bharatiya
Janata Party's state office in
the city. Speaking on the oc-
casion, he said that From 2014
to 2023, during the 10-year
rule of the BRS party, the
democratic system was com-
pletely corrupted. “ It has in-
dulged in abuse of power
with vendetta against politi-
cal opponents. During the 10-
year-old BRS rule, the party
had diluted the anti-defection
law. The BRS and the Con-
gress have a history of en-
couraging the MLAs who
have won in a party to defec-
tions and inducting them into
their government without
even resigning and giving
ministerial posts. The Con-
gress government has contin-
ued its vicious habits and has
set the agenda of defections,”
he alleged.
Referring to the statement
of Former Chief Minister
KCR that Some of the dogs
and foxes are defecting to the
ruling party from the BRS
party, he asked KCR ss to why
did he kept such people's rep-
resentatives in his party for
so many years gave tickets to
such people?
He alleged that The Con-
gress and the BRS did not have
faith in the verdict that people
ROOFTOP SOLAR SYSTEMS AT 30
GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS INAUGURATED
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
United Way of Hyderabad
(UWH), a non-profit volun-
teer-led organization, in part-
nership with HSBC Global
Service Centres India an-
nounces the inauguration of
rooftop solar systems at 30
Government schools in Hy-
derabad. This is part of HSBC
India’s wider energy transi-
tion programme, increasing
clean energy consumption
across these schools.
The inauguration was held
at Government Girls High
School 2nd Lancers,
Golkonda on Thursday. Ma-
matha Madireddy, MD and
Head of Global Service Cen-
tres India graced the inaugu-
ral. The program was attend-
ed by school administration,
and senior leaders from
HSBC Global Service
Centres, India and United
Way of Hyderabad.
The new solar power infra-
structure units are symbolic
successfully and with the
same spirit, the party will ful-
fill all its the national promis-
es after coming to power at
the Centre," he said.
Bhatti Vikramarka alleged
that the previous BRS govern-
ment should be held responsi-
KCR had earlier
compared his chief
minister's post with
the chappal. Of his
left foot. In a way
that undermines the
people's verdict. The
BRS and the Congress
are acting in a
derogatory manner.
vote with a sense of holiness.
“KCR had earlier compared
his chief minister's post with
the chappal. Of his left foot. In
a way that undermines the
people's verdict. The BRS and
the Congress are acting in a
derogatory manner.
If there is opposition to
KCR's party. It is up to them to
change the party. But, when
people vote with a party sym-
bol. The leaders who won as
people's representatives in
the name of the party, If they
have the courage , they
should resign and change the
party. That's all.. It is not fair
at all to defect to the party
while continuing in elected
positions,” he said .
He said that A number of
horrifying facts were coming
up in the press in the ongoing
investigation into the phone
tapping scandal that took
place during the BRS regime.
of United Way of Hyderabad’s
commitment towards reduc-
ing carbon emissions and en-
vironmental stewardship.
The programme,
supported by HSBC India, ex-
tends beyond Hyderabad to
cover a total of 65 Govern-
ment schools and 6 Govern-
ment Health Centres across
Telangana and Karnataka.
The combined infrastructure
has decided to use the entrance gate located on the north east side of the
area instead of the present entrance gate, which is located on the north
western side of the area . The gate located on the north Eastern side is
being readied for use by the Telangana Bhavan authorities.
ble for the current drought
situation prevailed in Telan-
gana as former chief
minister K Chandrashekar
Rao didn't not take any meas-
ures to store water in reser-
voirs and projects during the
rainy season.
“The phone tapping issue
is a serious issue. It has acted
in such a way that it obstructs
power, suppresses democracy
and takes away the liberty of
the individual.
The Telangana community
and the entire country are
amazed at the way the BRS
government has behaved.
While holding the charge
as senior police officers, ille-
gal dealings with phone tap-
ping are coming to light one
by one. Many have already
been arrested. The then chief
minister appointed a retired
officer as intelligence chief
and led the phone tapping
racket under his leadership.
The phone tapping case is
serious. It is not only an act of
political vendetta but also a
violation of personal privacy,
dignity and rules.
The previous BRS govern-
ment had deliberately intrud-
ed into the personal lives of
the people and acted in a man-
ner that violated the rights of
the people,” he said .
He alleged that In the 2014
assembly elections, the 2019
parliamentary elections and
the subsequent Dubbaka,
Huzurabad and Munugodu
by-elections, the KCR govern-
ment acted completely con-
trary to the rules of the Elec-
tion Commission and added
that The phones of
opposition party leaders were
tapped in an illegal manner.
will generate a total of 298
Kilowatts of solar energy,
contributing to the Sustain-
able Development Goals sub-
stantially the share of renew-
able energy in the national
and global energy mix and
global rate of improvement in
energy efficiency.
At the event, Mamatha
Madireddy, MD and Head of
Global Service Centres India
AICC leaders would
give a message to the
nation after releasing
the party's manifesto
for the Lok Sabha
elections and the
Jana Garjana Sabha
would set the
direction for the
country on that day.
"We are trying to repair the
damaged power system that
was done by the previous BRS
government. Also steps are
being made to ensure that
there is no power cut even for
a moment in the future. The
Congress government is al-
ready giving up to 200 units of
free electricity to the eligible
families and preparing plans
to meet the peak demand till
2030-31," Bhatti Vikramarka
added.
‘Phone tapping
was done on
direction of KCR’
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Congress MLA Yennam
Srinivas Reddy, who repre-
sents Mahabubnagar Assem-
bly constituency, alleged that
the previous BRS govern-
ment had misused the admin-
istration for political gain
and the phone calls of politi-
cians and businessmen were
tapped on the direction of
then chief minister K Chan-
drashekar Rao.
Speaking to the media at
Gandhi Bhavan here on
Thursday, Srinivas Reddy
said that in general, the tap-
ping of phone calls are done
to monitor the movements
of terrorists, but tapping the
opposition leaders' phone
calls is an unusual thing in
India.
"Unfortunately, it took
place in Telangana during
the BRS regime," he said.
The Congress MLA alleged
that the phone taping was
done on the orders of KCR
and without the knowledge
of the DGP, the process was
done by setting up special
teams.
‘Cong govt creating problems to weavers for political reasons’
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
BRS party working president
KT Rama Rao has urged the
State government to continue
all welfare and development
programmes for weavers in
Telangana.
Sircilla MLA KT Rama Rao
on Thursday wrote an open
letter to Chief Minister Re-
vanth Reddy, stating that over
the last four months, the pre-
vious government's welfare
activities have been halted by
the Congress government,
leading to distress in the
weaving community.
"Due to mismanagement in
the agricultural sector, farm-
ers are already committing
suicides in the State. Unfortu-
nately, the same kind of ad-
ministrative negligence is
leading to distress in the poor
weaving community, with
weavers also resorting to sui-
cides," KTR lamented.
said, “At HSBC, we are com-
mitted to supporting the
transition to a net zero econ-
omy and supporting the com-
munities we live in. This ini-
tiative is one of the many
steps to fulfil that commit-
ment of accelerating climate
change solutions. I am par-
ticularly pleased to know
that this project will not only
support the green energy
RS Praveen
Kumar slams
congress govt
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
BRS party’s Nagarkurnool
MP candidate RS Praveen
Kumar has expressed his
anger at the Congress gov-
ernment for breaking its
promise to waive off crop
loans as soon as it came to
power. Does it mean the
promise of Rs 2 lakh loan
waiver to the farmers on De-
cember 9 after the Congress
government in the state is
stuck,” He asked.
RS Praveen Kumar said
that if the farmers want new
loans as investment assis-
tance, they were being
threatened to pay the old
debt. “Hey Chief Minister Re-
vanth Reddy! do you remem-
ber December 9,” he asked.
Sarma IIT Coaching Institute Founder Sri Yadavalli Subramanya Sarma, Smt Seshukumari’s
youngest son Raghvendra marriage with Ms Manasa, daughter of Sri Hari Venkata Sastry and
Smt Saroja Lakshmi was held on April 4.
He explained the previous
government's welfare activi-
ties such as yarn subsidies di-
rectly deposited into the
weaver's accounts, insurance
benefits for the weavers, and
The new solar power
infrastructure units are
symbolic of United
Way of Hyderabad’s
commitment towards
reducing carbon
emissions and
environmental
stewardship.
transition but also make a
lasting impact on the com-
munity by providing renew-
able energy for Government
schools in Hyderabad.”
At the event, Rekha Srini-
vasan, CEO of United Way of
Hyderabad said, “Climate Ac-
tion has been a core focus for
United way of Hyderabad in
the last few years. Sustain-
ability projects that help com-
munities transition to non-
traditional energy sources
such as solar are an impor-
tant goal.
HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
CM Revanth remembers
Babu Jagjivan Ram
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
Chief Minister A Revanth
Reddy has praised noted free-
dom fighter and former
Deputy Prime Minister Babu
Jagjivan Ram for his unparal-
leled services to the people.
Stating that Jagjivan Ram’s
life is an inspiration and his
services to the country are
significant, the Chief Minis-
ter remembered the former
Deputy PM’s services to the
nation on the occasion of his
117th birth anniversary on
Friday ( April 5).
Revanth Reddy said that
Babuji, who was born into a
poor family, ascended many
heights through persever-
ance. Jagjivan Ram partici-
pated actively in the freedom
struggle, served as a member
of the Constituent Assembly
and was also India’s first
Minister of Labour in the
first Prime Minister Jawa-
harlal Nehru's cabinet after
independence and supported
the welfare of the workers.
The Chief Minister said
that Babuji, who was torch-
Warm Wishes
government cloth orders
placed directly with the
weavers.
KTR stated that the present
government has halted all
weaving welfare activities, es-
TS holds talks with EV car
giant Tesla: Sridhar Babu
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
With Electric vehicle giant
Tesla gearing up to send a
team to scout locations in In-
dia this month for a potential
$2 billion to $3 billion electric
car plant, the Congress gov-
ernment has intensified its
pursuit of getting Tesla to set
up a manufacturing plant in
the Telangana State.
In a tweet on X (formerly
know as Twitter) on Thurs-
day, Minister for IT and In-
dustries D Sridhar Babu stat-
ed that Telangana govern-
ment has been keenly follow-
ing Tesla's planned invest-
ment initiatives in India
since December, 2023.
“We have been making all
out efforts to bring Tesla to
our State. Telangana with its
industry-friendly policy, is
working with a progressive
and futuristic vision by creat-
ing a world-class infrastruc-
ture and hassle-free approvals
system to enable best-in-class
companies like Tesla to do
business in Telangana.”
bearer of the workers’ wel-
fare, also served two terms as
Union Agriculture Minister.
He praised Jagjivan Ram for
his pivotal role in making the
success of the Green Revolu-
tion as the Union Agriculture
Minister when the country
was reeling under drought.
The noted national leader also
left his own mark as the Minis-
ter of Railways and Transport,
Revanth Reddy said.
Due to mismanagement in the agricultural
sector, farmers are already committing suicides
in the State. Unfortunately, the same kind of
administrative negligence is leading to distress
in the poor weaving community, with weavers
also resorting to suicides
pecially the Bathukamma sa-
ree production programme,
directly leading to distress
among around 30,000 power
loom weavers in Telangana.
"Due to the non-payment of
pending bills, which were
stopped during the elections
due to the model code of con-
duct, even master weavers are
facing a lot of financial crises,
affecting the power loom la-
borers. Already, a few power
loom laborers have commit-
ted suicide, reminiscent of
the dreadful years of Con-
gress administration when
Sircilla was known for its
Telangana
government has been
keenly following
Tesla's planned
investment initiatives
in India since
December, 2023.
The Minister said the
Telangana Industries depart-
ment and other entities of the
Government are continuing
the deliberations with the
global automotive and clean
energy giant Tesla to estab-
lish its plant in the State.
The Chief Minister said
Jagjivan Ram had also con-
tributed a lot to the
upliftment of the Dalits by
fighting on the eradication of
untouchability and against
caste discrimination.
"The State government is
committed to fulfilling the as-
pirations of Jagjivan Ram
and also ruling the State by
taking inspiration from the
great leader," he added.
weavers' suicides," KTR said.
The former minister re-
quested the Congress govern-
ment not to view these weav-
ing welfare activities through
a political lens and urged the
government to continue all
ongoing welfare activities. He
also demanded the release of
orders for Bathukamma sa-
rees, which would help the
majority of the weaving com-
munity in the State.
Accusing the State govern-
ment of attempting to give
the same Bathukamma order
to other States just for the
sake of commissions.
MANUU hosts Job
Fest Amid Jashn-e-
Baharan Celebration
FPJ BUREAU/HYDERABAD
In an effort to bridge the gap
between academia and indus-
try, Maulana Azad National
Urdu University (MANUU) or-
ganized a Job Fest exclusively
tailored for final semester stu-
dents on April 4, 2024 as part of
Jashn e Baharan festivities.
According to Dr. Md.
Yousuf Khan, Director,
Training & Placement Cell,
total 20 companies spanning
various sectors, including
technology, finance, health-
care, and education compa-
nies participated in the job
fest. Participating organiza-
tions eagerly showcased their
career prospects, offering in-
sights into job roles, intern-
ship opportunities, and ca-
reer progression pathways.
Prof. Syed Ainul Hasan,
Vice Chancellor while inau-
gurating the event said "The
Job Fest serves as a crucial
platform for our final semes-
ter students to transition
seamlessly into the profes-
sional realm.
 CHHATTISGARH
Yadav to hold meeting today
RAIPUR: All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary for
Chhattisgarh Dr Chandan Yadav will participate in the meeting of
Lok Sabha War-room at state Congress party office on Friday
(April 4). The meeting is scheduled to begin at 11 am, said CPCC
Media Chief Sushil Anand Shukla. CHHATTISGARH | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

‘LATHI’ ON MODI IS LIKE A CANE-CHARGE HC upholds lifer to accused in

Ramavtar Jaggi murder case
ON PEOPLE OF CHHATTISGARH: CM
STAFF REPORTER
Rajnandgaon / Raipur
STAFF REPORTER / Bilaspur

The Double Bench of the High

Raking up the statement of
Leader of Opposition Dr Cha-
randas Mahant, Chhattisgarh
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo
Sai said Lathi on Modi is like
a cane-charge on the people
of the state.
He was addressing the pub-
lic rally held after the nomi-
nation of Santosh Pandey at
Rajnandgaon on Thursday.
Congress candidate pitted
against him is former Chief
Minister and Patan MLA
Bhupesh Baghel.
Sai said, “If Congress has
the courage then they should
hit his head with the baton
first.”
He said the Congress has
once again shown their true
colour by abusing Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi. Earlier,
they had called him the ‘Deal-
er of the Death’. The PM is
working round the clock for
the development of the citi-
zens and the country.
Attacking the Bhupesh
Baghel led government in the
last five years, he said the gov-
ernment has worked to cheat
the public. The Congress gov-
ernment that came with thir-
ty-six big promises could not
fulfil even a single one. The
people uprooted such a deceit-
ful government in the Assem-
bly elections and now they
will teach such people a
lesson in the Lok Sabha elec-
tions also.
He highlighted the
different forms of corruption
during the period. Even in the
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai, State In-charge Nitin Nabin, State President Kiran Dev, Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao, Vijay
Sharma participated in the nomination filing of Santosh Pandey at Rajnandgaon. Later the leaders addressed the rally.
in the Lok Sabha elections,
voters will definitely make
two distinctions, remember
the five-year tenure of the
cunning, useless, tyrannical,
unjust, corrupt and misbegot-
ten Congress government
and the BJP. The BJP govern-
ment led by Chief Minister
Vishnudev Sai for about 100
days has set an example in the
entire country.
scheme's implementation, of the PSC scam was handed Deputy Chief Minister
there was high level corrup- over to the CBI. Everything is Arun Sao, said that the secu-
tion mainly in cow-dung pur- happening gradually, this is rity deposit of the Congress
chase and others. the reason why people are party which abuses the coun-
More than 100 days the gov- saying bye bye to Congress, he try's Prime Minister Naren-
ernment has fulfilled the big said. dra Modi should be forfeited
promises of Modi's BJP state president Kiran in Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha.
guarantee. The investigation Singh Dev, said while voting Congress Party candidate
Bhupesh Baghel has to be
packed and sent back from
here. Every BJP worker has
to go to every house and ask
for votes for BJP candidate
Santosh Pandey and
strengthen the hands of the
Prime Minister.
Deputy Chief Minister Vi-
jay Sharma said the Prime
Minister has been working
without taking leave for the
last 10 years, and is engaged
day and night in the service
of the country. He highlight-
ed the achievements of the
Central Government during
the last years including the
construction of Ram Tem-
ple.
Court of Chhattisgarh on
Thursday asked the state gov-
ernment to repair the road
leading to Raipur Airport near
Dhaneli and Vidhan Sabha
Road.
The double bench of Chief
Justice Ramesh Kumar Sinha
and Justice Ravindra Agarwal
was hearing the public interest
petition regarding the dilapi-
dated conditions of the roads.
In the reply, the state govern-
ment said that Rs 22.5 crore had
been sanctioned for the con-
struction of the dilapidated as-
sembly road, but the tender
could not be floated due to the
enforcement of the model code
HC asks government to
of conduct. The High Court
said that the code of conduct is
repair dilapidated roads
not applicable in works of pub-
lic interest. The Chief Justice BILASPUR: The Double Bench of the High Court of Chhattisgarh
Ramesh Kumar Sinha and Jus- on Thursday asked the state government to repair the road
tice Ravindra Aggarwal asked leading to Raipur Airport near Dhaneli and Vidhan Sabha Road.
the government to issue a ten- The double bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Kumar Sinha and
der. The Advocate General has Justice Ravindra Agarwal was hearing the public interest
been asked to monitor the en- petition regarding the dilapidated conditions of the roads.
tire process. In the reply, the state government said that Rs 22.5 crore had
Expressing his displeasure, been sanctioned for the construction of the dilapidated
the Chief Justice asked the Ad- assembly road, but the tender could not be floated due to the
vocate General that until the enforcement of the model code of conduct.
road is not repaired, “you will The High Court said that the code of conduct is not applicable
come and go like this.” During in works of public interest. The Chief Justice Ramesh Kumar
the hearing of the PIL filed re- Sinha and Justice Ravindra Aggarwal asked the government to
garding the dilapidated roads issue a tender. The Advocate General has been asked to
across the state, the amicus cu- monitor the entire process.
riae presented their report re- Expressing his displeasure, the Chief Justice asked the
garding the reference road. He Advocate General that until the road is not repaired, “you will
said that the condition of the come and go like this.” During the hearing of the PIL filed
road leading to Raipur Airport regarding the dilapidated roads across the state, the amicus
near Dhaneli and Vidhan curiae presented their report regarding the reference road. He
Sabha Road is very bad. There said that the condition of the road leading to Raipur Airport
are potholes at many places on near Dhaneli and Vidhan Sabha Road is very bad. There are
the roads. Even the street lights potholes at many places on the roads. Even the street lights are
are not on. There is a possibility not on. There is a possibility of an accident at night.
of an accident at night.

ECI appoints
observers for
Kanker,
Mahasamund,
Rajnandgaon
RAIPUR: Election Commis-
sion of India has appointed
General Observer, Police Ob-
server and Expenditure Ob-
server for the general elec-
tions in Kanker, Ma-
hasamund and Rajnandgaon
Lok Sabha constituencies.
The Commission has ap-
pointed Dr. M.T. Reju, a 2005
batch Indian Administrative
Service officer for the Kanker
Lok Sabha constituency. Reju
has been appointed as Gener-
al Observer, M. Rakesh Chan-
dra Kalasagar, a 2011 batch
Indian Police Service officer,
has been appointed as Police
Observer and Sandeep Mon-
dal, a 2014 batch Indian Rev-
enue Service (Income Tax) of-
ficer, has been appointed as
Expenditure Observer.
Two girls critical, 80 admitted Total of 52 candidates file
due to food poisoning nomination for three LS seats
STAFF REPORTER / Bilaigrh
A case of food poisoning has
come to light in village Rani-
garh-Chhuiha of the district
where more than 80 people
have been admitted to the hos-
pital while the situation of two
girls is critical. Both have been
referred to Balodabazar.
The 10th day banquet was
organized in a family in the
village where more than 500
people ate rotis and sweets
along with pulses and sweets
in the night. After which sud-
denly the health of men in-
cluding women and children
started to deteriorate.
Some vomited and some
had stomach pain and diar-
rhoea. Within no time, more
than 80 people were admitted
to the health centres of Dhan-
sir and Bilaigarh. The health
of two children deteriorated
and they have been referred
to Balodabazar.
At present everyone is out
of danger and treatment is
going on under the supervi-
sion of doctors. After the inci-
dent, the health department
is treating people by setting
up camps in Ranigarh-Chhui-
ha.
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
In the Second Phase of polls
for the three Lok Sabha con-
stituencies, of Rajnandgaon
(6), Mahasamund (9) and
Kanker (11) a total of 52 candi-
dates have filed 95 nomina-
tions on Thursday, the last
date of filing nomination. The
nomination process began on
March 28, said officials of
Chief Electoral Officer, Chhat-
tisgarh on Thursday.
They said that the electoral
roll for the second phase of
polls had been freezed on
Thursday. The second phase
of polls have a total of 6,567
polling centres and two assis-
tant polling centres. The first
randomisation of the EVMs
have been conducted at the
District Election Officer
which has assembly-wise 120
ballot units and counting
units and 130 percent VVPAT.
They said that for the first
phase of polls for the Bastar
Lok Sabha constituency, the
postal ballot paper to all the
employees of the district will
be made available on April 6
at the facilitating centre.
A total of 249 complaints
were received through cVIG-
IL App, all of which have been
resolved. The process for the
publicity related permissions
a total of 335 applications
were received and action has
been taken in all of it. A total
of 69,203 banners, posters-
1,11,285, wall writing - 1,36,187
and others 88,115 total 4,04,790
actions have been taken. Cash
work Rs 9.80, liquor of 0.66
crore, Drugs/Narcotics
worth 1.76 crore, precious
metals worth 1.64 crore, other
seizures/freebies worth Rs
17.93 crore have been seized
which totals to 3.79 crore.
BJP leaders
misquoting
Mahant’s
statement:
Baghel
STAFF REPORTER: Accusing
the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP) leaders, former Chief
Minister and Congress candi-
date from Rajnandgaon Lok
Sabha seat Bhupesh Baghel
said that the BJP leaders had
misquoted the statement of
Congress Legislative Party
(CLP) leader Dr Charan Das
Mahant.
Reacting over the BJP lead-
ers’ statements, Baghel said
that BJP leaders misunder-
stood because they did not
understand the Chhattis-
garhi proverb properly.
“Whatever CLP leader Dr
Charan Das Mahant said in
the proverb of Chhattisgarhi
language. Every person who
knows and understands
Chhattisgarhi language,

Congress lodges complaint against

Election Commission of In-
dia has appointed Shashi Ran-
jan of Indian Administrative
Service as General Observer,
Yogendra Kumar, 2014 batch
officer of Indian Police Serv-
ice, as Police Observer and
Praveen Ranjan of Indian De-
fence Accounts Service
(IDAS) as Expenditure Ob-
server for Rajnandgaon Lok
Sabha constituency. For Ma-
hasamund Lok Sabha con-
stituency, Dr. Samit Sharma, a
2004 batch Indian Administra-
tive Service officer, has been
appointed as the General Ob-
server and M. Rakesh Chan-
dra Kalasagar, a 2011 batch In-
dian Police Service officer, has
been appointed as the Police
Observer. The Commission
has appointed Manish Kumar
Dabas, 2014 batch Indian Rev-
enue Service officer, for Ma-
hasamund district under Ma-
hasamund Lok Sabha con-
stituency and Ram Prabhu
Uday R., 2016 batch Indian
Revenue Service officer, for
Dhamtari and Gariaband dis-
tricts as expenditure observ-
er.
Dy CM for violation of model code
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur
A delegation of Chhattisgarh Pradesh
Congress Committee led by State Con-
gress Media Chief Sushil Anand
Shukla has made a written complaint
against Home Minister Vijay Sharma
for allegedly violating model code of
conduct to Chief Electoral Officer
(CEO) Chhattisgarh Reena
Babasaheb Kangale at the office of the
CEO in Raipur city on Thursday.
The delegation handed over the
complaint letter to the CEO on Thurs-
day.
CPCC’s Legal Department Chair-
man Dewa Dewangan, State Congress
Senior Spokespersons Ghanshyam
Raju Tiwari, Surendra Verma and
other Congress leaders were present.
In the complaint letter, it has been
mentioned that at present model code
of conduct has been effective across
silent as a mute spectator during the
protest because the Home Minister
himself participated in the protest
that was a gross violation of the dig-
nity of his post and a violation of the
model code of conduct.
It should be clarified that from
which officer the Home Minister took
the permission for the protest and on
what basis was the permission given
for the protest at the office residence
of the Leader of the Opposition dur-
ing the model code of conduct. There-
A delegation of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee led by State Congress Media fore, it has been requested that imme-
Chief Sushil Anand Shukla handing over a memorandum to Chief Electoral Officer diate legal and appropriate action be
Chhattisgarh Reena Babasaheb Kangale at the office of the CEO in Raipur city on Thursday. taken against Home Minister Vijay
Sharma for violating the model code
the country. In such a situation, a tive assembly Dr Charan Das Mahant of conduct, read the memorandum.
crowd of the BJP workers, led by by breaking the main gate that was a The Congress party also demanded
Home Minister Vijay Sharma, yester- violation of model code of conduct. that as long as the Lok Sabha elections
day allegedly made an attempt to The Congress party also condemned are going on, Home Minister Vijay
enter the official residence of Leader the protest of the BJP. Sharma should be dismissed from the
of Opposition in Chhattisgarh legisla- The Chhattisgarh police stood post of minister.
Centre failed
to keep
promises: Baij
STAFF REPORTER: Chhattis-
garh Pradesh Congress Com-
mittee President Deepak Baij
on Thursday criticized the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
government at the Centre,
saying that the Central gov-
ernment has not fulfilled its
promises.
In his statement, the BJP
government at the Centre has
cheated the people of the
country within the last 10
years. The BJP promised to
generate 2 crore employment
for youth every year but it
failed to do it. Inflation and
unemployment are at peak in
the BJP rule in the country.
Meanwhile, in the 2014 par-
liamentary elections, the BJP
had promised to reduce infla-
tion in 100 days but it failed.
The BJP government failed to
double the farmers’ income in
the last 10 years, he added.
which is rich in proverbs and
is associated with Chhattis-
garhi folk life, knows this. His
intention was to break the
pride of the BJP and the
Prime Minister,” he said.
“BJP leaders cannot un-
derstand this proverb be-
cause they do not understand
Chhattisgarhi language and
culture. But despite this fact,
Mahant ji has politely said
that if it has been misinter-
preted then he expresses re-
gret. After this regretful light
this controversy should end,”
he added.
“We are the people of Ma-
hatma Gandhi's party. We
neither believe in violence
nor is violence a part of our
thinking. We are people of
non-violent ideology,” point-
ed Baghel.
The former Chief Minister
said, “As far as Prime
Minister Narendra Modi Ji is
concerned, we want to defeat
him democratically. We want
to break his pride. We have no
disrespect towards him. May
the Prime Minister be healthy
and live long,” said Baghel.

LAST WORD

Accused escapes from hospital, caught Congress's five guarantees to be a game changer: Shukla
STAFF REPORTER / Raipur reasons, he was admit-
ted to the district STAFF REPORTER / Raipur Justice, Youth Justice, REGA workers from Rs 200 law will be made in the Par-
The double murder ac- hospital on medical ad- Farmer's Justice, Labor to Rs 400. It will bring a liament. Besides, the sup-
cused, who was serving vice. Congress's five Nyaya 25 Justice and Participatory change in the standard of port price will be deter-
sentence in Central Jail, Sentinels were also guarantees will prove to be Justice, the attitude living of the workers of the mined as per the recom-
Raipur, managed to es- deployed to monitor a game changer in the Lok towards Congress has country. Manmohan Singh mendations of the Swami-
cape from the district him. Mahesh managed Sabha elections, said Chhat- changed among the voters government of Congress nathan Committee. Along
hospital on Thursday. to escape from the hospi- tisgarh Pradesh Congress of every section of the had made employment legal with this, Congress has
At a distance of half a tal at around 7 am on Committee Communication country. People are seeing under MNREGA. Since promised to bring agricul-
kilometre from the hos- Thursday morning. He Department Chairman their future in the Congress then Congress is guarantee- tural products and agricul-
pital, an alert youth had just reached the Sushil Anand Shukla said government, he added. ing an increase in wages of tural equipment out of the
caught the accused and main Pandri Road, 400 that the Congress Party has Shukla said that workers. purview of GST.
handed him over to the meters away from the given five justices and 25 Congress has promised to Shukla adds that Con- These announcements
jail guards. hospital, when the boys guarantees to the people of give Rs 1 lakh every year gress is also committed to and promises of Congress
The police said that drinking tea saw him. the country in the Lok Sab- and Rs 8,333 per month to giving full price to the are going to be the reason
Mahesh Verma, 20, ac- Mahesh was wearing ha elections. The public is women. Along with it, Con- farmers for their produce, for the departure of the
cused of murdering his white prisoner clothes. seeing a new ray of hope gress has also promised 50 that is why Congress has Modi government in the
father and brother, was Due to which the boys from the promises of Con- percent reservation for
Sushil Anand Shukla promised the farmers that Lok Sabha elections. The
shifted to Raipur Cen- caught him and handed gress. women in central recruit- towards Congress. it will give a legal guaran- promises of Congress have
tral Jail Raipur last him over to the jail Since the declaration of ment. The polarization of He said the promise to in- tee to the Minimum Sup- created enthusiasm among
week. Due to health guards. the five justices - Women's women voters has happened crease the wages of MGN- port Price (MSP), for this a the public, he added.
Brother-in-law rapes woman
BHOPAL: A 30-year-old woman was allegedly raped by her brother-in-law on Wednesday.
According to the Berasia police, the woman stayed along with her husband and a kid. On Tuesday night, she was at home with her
child, while her husband, who is a farmer, had gone to the farm. The next morning, when the woman’s husband was not home,
MADHYA PRADESH MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
and her husband’s elder brother, who had returned from the farm, entered the house at 7 am, found the woman sleeping.

Youth kills girl friend, her new friend in

Woman VIDEO OF MINISTER of state for health
Narendra Shivaji Patel hurling abuses
snuffs out and threatening Shahpura cops is
8-month-old doing rounds on social media

temple, later shoots self in Arihant College

OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.indore@fpj.co.in
In a devastating turn of
events on busy Khandwa
Road, a tragedy struck in
broad daylight on Thurs-
day as a youth’s rage over
unrequited love turned
into a deadly rampage,
leaving two dead. Later,
the assailant turned the
muzzle on self.
The accused, who
reached Shri Swami-
narayan Temple with a
country-made pistol,
talked with his ex-girl-
friend and her friend.
Later, he shot them point
blank and committed sui-
cide in Arihant College, a
few metres away from the
spot. Police blamed love
triangle for the heinous
crime. However, girl’s
family member claimed
that she had gone to the
temple with her cousin.
Additional DCP (zone-4)
Anand Yadav said that the
incident took place around
noon. Sneha Jat (22), of Ja-
grati Nagar and her
‘friend’ Deepak Jaat (22),
of Agar in Rajgarh dis-
trict had gone to the tem-
ple to offer prayer. After
coming out of the temple
they were confronted by
Abhishek Yadav (27).
They talked with each oth-
er there for about 30 min-
utes. Later, Ashishek
whipped out a pistol and
opened fire on Deepak.
Crime scene at Shri Swami narayan
temple in Indore and on left (from
Left) killer Abhishek Yadav and
victims Deepak Jat & Sneha Jat
When Sneha tried to inter-
vene, he turned the gun
towards her and shot her
in head from point blank
range. Police claimed that
the accused fired five bul-
lets in which one was a
misfire. Four shells were
recovered from the spot.
Sneha Jat was pursing
nursing course from Ma-
haraja Ranjeet Singh Col-
lege, while Deepak Jaat
was pursuing engineering
from Oriental College.
ILLEGAL ARMS TRADE
daughter
PUTS her body in a bag
and throws it into water
SHE reveals the
blood-curdling incident;
POLICEMAN CHASED ACCUSED BUT
police arrest her
HE SHOT SELF IN COLLEGE FP NEWS SERVICE
After knowing about the incident, head constable Lax- Singrauli
man from Bhanwarkuan police station reached the spot.
As accused tried to escape, Laxman gave a chase. Howev- A woman has snuffed out
er, the accused entered Arihant College a few metres her eight-month-old daugh-
away from the spot and shot self. Laxman informed Free ter, put her into a bag and
Press that the accused entered from gate number 1 but threw it into water in the
he (Laxman) jumped from a closed gate to catch the ac- Bargawan Bazar area un-
cused but he shot himself in college campus. He was tak- der the Bargawan police
en to the hospital in a vehicle but he could not be saved. station in the city. The inci-
Accused sent message to girl’s relatives professing his dent that benumbs the
love (Indore ki koi aisi jagah nahi jahan hum nahi gaye, senses of anyone came to
phir hum dono ke beech teesra aa jata hai light when the woman and
Police said that a message was circulated on social me- her husband walked up to
dia after the incident. In the message, accused Abhishek the Bargawan police sta-
mentioned that he met the girl in 2019 and they became tion to lodge a complaint
friends. After Abhishek refused to marry her, they about their missing daugh-
stopped talking to each other for a few days. Later, Sne- ter.
ha again befriended Abhishek. After the lockdown, Immediately after the
they started talking to each other and fell in love once complaint, the police
again. After the lockdown, they started meeting and the swung into action and be-
girl again asked him to marry her. She even threatened gan to inquire about the
him of suicide. Later, Abhishek married her in a tem- case. Superintendent of
ple. Abhishek further mentioned in the message that he police Nivedita Gupta said
and the girl visited each and every place in Indore and a woman and her husband
Dewas together but a third person entered their life and had visited the Bargawan
the relationship went kaput. police station late Wednes-
day night to complain that
their baby daughter had
gone missing.
‘Will thrash sons
of cops like they
assaulted my son’
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
A video of minister of state
for health Narendra Shivaji
Patel hurling abuses at po-
lice personnel is doing
rounds on social media. The
video comes on heels on Sat-
urday's incident where in
his son Abhigyaan Patel Narendra Shivaji Patel
had brutally assaulted a me-
dia person and a restaura- Not in my knowledge,
teur couple in Shahpura. says Addl DCP (Zone-1)
However, Free Press does
not verify authenticity of When Free Press got in
the viral video. touch with the Additional
The video was purported- DCP of Zone-1, Rashmi
ly shot inside Shahpura po- Agrawal Dubey, in light of
lice station on Saturday the video making rapid
late night, hours after four rounds online, she said no
police personnel allegedly such video or occurrence
assaulted Abhigyaan Patel had come to her
for misbehaving with po- cognizance.
lice station staff. Although
minister Patel's face was son continued to be in a
not visible clearly in the limbo as the police turned

BJP to admit 1L party ATS seizes 360 barrels from

The woman said she had video, his voice was clearly a blind eye to their woes.
gone to some place leaving audible. He was seen hurl- As per the recent develop-
her daughter home. When ing expletives on Shahpura ment, the case diary had

hoppers on F-Day
she returned home, she police station officials, say- been handed over to the TT
did not find her. She ing, "I will thrash the sons Nagar police for fair probe.

Surat; three arrested thought either a dog or a

TO LAUNCH drive other parties, they should
admit the booth-level
workers of other political
to break the Cong outfits into the BJP.
The BJP has told its
at booth-level leaders to contact the
workers of the Congress
cat might have mauled
her.The police continued
of police personnel in the
same way as
assaulted my son (Abhi-
they
TT Nagar police station TI
Ashok Gautam told Free
Press that investigation was
OUR STAFF REPORTER rested last month
to search for the missing
girl. Then the women's
gyaan)." He further threat-
ened to stage a dharna (sit-
still underway, and based on
the same, more sections of
Bhopal from Khargone and statement made the police in) on the police station the IPC would be invoked
The Madhya
Khandwa district.
"Based on the tip
suspect that there was
something black in the
premises until justice was
served.
against Abhigyaan Patel.
On being asked about
Pradesh Anti-Ter-
rorism Squad (ATS)
off from the in-
former, the ATS had
bottom. When the cops
strongly quizzed the
While on one hand, Abhi-
gyaan managed to go scot-
minister's video
abusing Shahpura cops,
of

OUR STAFF REPORTER
Bhopal
The BJP is going to launch
a drive to bring the Con-
gress's booth-level work-
ers to its fold according to
and of other parties.
According to BJP's state
unit president VD Shar-
ma, the party will create a
record of sort on its foun-
dation day.
It will happen for the
has claimed to have
confiscated 360 bar-
rels used in making
pistols from Gu-
jarat's Surat, along with
the arrest of three persons
for their alleged involve-
gation, the accused said
that he temporarily stays
in Prabhu Nagar area of
arrested Rahul Ya- woman, she admitted of free after getting booked the police expressed igno-
dav, a resident of killing her daughter and under sections 294, 323, 506 rance about it. This has
Khargone district throwing her body into and 34 of the Indian Penal raised serious doubts over
from Khandwa and water. The police found Code (IPC), the future of the neutrality of police
Gurubakht Singh, a resi- the girl's body and arrest- the victim restauranteur probe under minister's po-
dent of Singur in Khar- ed the woman. couple, and the media-per- litical influence.
gone from Khargone itself,

30,000 unpaid traffic

a piece advice given by
Union Home Minister
Amit Shah.
The BJP plans to admit
a large number of Con-
first time that the ment in the illegal arms Surat and supplies raw last month," the ATS said.
workers of other parties trade. material and barrels used "On the information of
will join the BJP in such a According to a release is- in the manufacturing of both the accused, On
large number, he said. sued by MP ATS on Thurs- illegal weapons to Madhya March 19, MP ATS raided
In each booth, the work- day, the seizure was made Pradesh. On his tip, ATS a factory running at

e-challan flood court

gress workers into the
party on its foundation
day on April 6 when the
party will organise an
event for new joining, the
party leaders said. On
this occasion, about one
lakh members of other
parties will join the BJP,
they said.
Shah told the BJP lead-
ers that instead of bring-
ing the senior leaders of
ers of other parties will
join the BJP, Sharma said.
The Congress workers
and leaders continue to
join the BJP. Senior lead-
ers like Suresh Pachori,
Sanjay Shukla, Vishal Pa-
tel, Vikram ahake, Jagat
Bahadur, Neelesh
Awasthi, Ramlakhan
Singh and many others
have already joined the
BJP.
on the basis of informa-
tion received during the
interrogation of one of
the three accused men ar-
rested from Barwani dis-
trict recently.
The arrested accused
has been identified as Sar-
nam Singh (32), a resident
of Dhawadi village, Send-
hwa tehsil, in Barwani
district.
"During initial interro-
formed a team, raided the
spot in Surat and seized
360 barrels," the ATS said
in its statement.
The action comes after a
major crackdown on ille-
gal firearms manufactur-
ing unit in Khargone.
Officials said that ac-
cused Sarnam Singh was
arrested from Sendhwa
based on inputs received
from the two accused ar-
Signur in Khargone dis-
trict and confiscated a
huge number of barrels
and raw materials used in
making pistols. In the in-
vestigation, it also came to
light that Gurubakht re-
ceived over 500 barrels
every month from Surat in
Gujarat," it said.
Further investigation
into the matter is going
on, it added.

‘Digital Home Arrest’ a trap of HC stays bailable warrant

fraudsters; cyber HQ issues advisory against Shivraj, VD Sharma
Online crooks cheating people through their social The caller also orders that
people posing as officials media accounts and he/she cannot meet and call OUR STAFF REPORTER the requirements of sub- Hardly 1% traffic in a surge of e-challans in to court. In case, violators

of CBI, ED, narcotics

Calls traced to Pakistan
and other countries
cheating people in the name
of violation of laws. ADG
Yogesh Deshmukh said
“Now days the fraudsters
are calling up their targets
anyone till their arrest is
over. During the video call,
several people posing as offi-
cials of National Investiga-
tion Agency, Central Bureau
City.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Principal bench Madhya
Pradesh High Court at Ja-
balpur on Thursday stayed
mitting their nomination
forms so could not submit
their personal undertaking
before the court.
The trial court had ob-
violators pay fine the court. In case of non-
payment of penalty, the vio-
online, rest to be lators may be served a war-
served warrant soon rant.
The motorists who have
do not pay fine, the court
will issue first bailable
warrant and then arrest
warrant.”
The system of e-challan

OUR STAFF REPORTER

city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
The cyber police on
Thursday issued an advisory
against the trap of cyber
fraudsters who are cheating
people posing as officials of
ED, CBI, NIA and NCB. Most
of the calls are coming from
Pakistan and other coun-
tries.
Recently a case surfaced in
Gwalior, in which the online
fraudsters held a retired
women teacher under ‘Digi-
tal House Arrest’ and duped
her of Rs 51 lakh. The cyber
fraudsters are now calling
saying that a parcel which
they sent/received contains
narcotics. And now they will
remain under ‘Digital house
arrested’ till further orders,
and a notice is served to the
victim.” He added that as
soon as a person gets such a
call, he/she gets frightened
and starts following the in-
structions given by the
callers, who pose as officials
of some law enforcement
agency.
In the ‘Digital House Ar-
rest’, the caller asks them to
keep their mobile on and
also the internet and the
camera, and lock themselves
up in a room.
of Investigation, Enforce-
ment Directorate and Nar-
cotics Control Bureau, ap-
pear on the mobile screen
and take their statements.
Thereafter they start col-
lecting information about
the bank accounts and in-
vestments. The victim is giv-
en a ‘bank account number’
and asked to transfer the
money they have in their
bank accounts to an account
which they claim belongs to
RBI or Government of
India. The person is told that
after the completion of the
probe, the entire amount
will be transferred back to
him..
the bailable warrant
against former CM Shivraj
Singh Chouhan, BJP state
president VD Sharma and
former minister Bhupendra
Singh in defamation suit
filed by Rajya Sabha MP
Vivek Tankha seeking Rs 10
crore.
Justice Sanjay Dwivedi
granted the stay.
Senior advocate Ravi
Nanandan Singh, who ap-
peared on behalf of peti-
tioners, said that the peti-
tioners are contesting the
Parliamentary Elections
from their respective con-
stituencies and are there-
fore very busy in fulfilling
served that the status or po-
sition of the petitioners
does not make any differ-
ence in the eye of law and
their conduct of not submit-
ting undertaking, as direct-
ed by the court, amounts to
violating the court’s order
which is unacceptable.
Taking note of the said
fact, the trial court had re-
jected the applications of
the petitioners and pre-
poned the date of their per-
sonal appearance from June
07, 2024 to May 07, 2024 and
also directed issuing bail-
able warrants against the
petitioners for securing
their appearance.
Penalty not paid as
MP Online kiosk
website non-
functional, claim
motorists
OUR STAFF REPORTER
city.bhopal@fpj.co.in
Around 30,000 e-challans to-
wards traffic violation have
been sent to Chief Judicial
Magistrate (CJM) in
District court, Bhopal. The
traffic rule flouters were
sent e-challan but hardly,
but hardly 1 per cent of the
violators pay fine resulting
been served challans claim
that online Kiosk website
does not work and so they
are unable to pay the fine
within the stipulated time
of two months. So now e-
challans have been sent to
court for execution and le-
gal action.
Advocate Pervez Alam,
who appears on behalf of
violators, said, “MP Online
kiosks are not working
properly so the motorists
are not able to pay the fine
online. Link does not open
on portal and even the web-
site gets crushed at MP On-
line kiosks. After 2
months, e-challans are sent
works by monitoring the
CCTVs cameras installed
across the city. The CCTV
footage captures the traffic
rule violator, and the
police then note their vehi-
cle registration number
from the footage. With this
information, they can then
derive the contact informa-
tion of the violators from
their records. The e-chal-
lan is a form of ticketing,
which is used to penalise
those who break traffic
rules. It is an automated
system that ensures viola-
tors adhere to traffic reg-
ulations and discourages
violations.

Snares spell trouble for tigers, leopards First-time voters prioritise candidate’s
OUR STAFF REPORTER
BHOPAL
Habitual offenders under scanner
Kanha Tiger Reserve field director SK Singh
told Free Press to check the snare-related
party affiliation and profile
The snares set up by hunters to catch OUR STAFF REPORTER WEIGH CANDIDATE’S ASSESS CANDIDATE PARTY OVER PARTY SYMBOL
incidents, awareness and effective patrolling
wild boars and other herbivore animals city.bhopal@fpj.co.in PROFILE CAPABILITY CANDIDATE IMPORTANT
is done. Along with this, the activities of
are also claiming the lives of tigers and
leopards in the state.
There are many incidents in which fe-
habitual offenders are tracked. As bike’s
clutch wire is used in the snare incidents
hence the bike repair shops are often
In the ensuing general elections
the significance of first-time can-
I will certainly vote for the
candidate rather than the
party. When
B efore casting my vote, I
will carefully consider
the
I will vote based on the party
and not the candidate. Firstly,
I’ll definitely
I will vote based on the
party symbol. I have
already
lines got trapped in the snare and lost didates cannot be undermined as
enquired to know that if any suspicious the candidate's look after decided
their lives. The efforts of forest officials they command attention as a
person has purchased the clutch wire. Such candidate is platform the whom to
to contain such incidents (mainly powerful and influential force in
shopkeepers are asked to keep the record competent and the candidates vote for; I
through awareness) are proving min- the electoral process. In the city,
of sale of clutch wires. and capable facilities and their made up my
nows and they are in a fix over how to first-time voters say that for
control such incidents. them party symbol and candi-
of fulfilling they profiles and mind as
In November, an adult tiger died after it got trapped, the snare, which was at- date’s profile is important and
their promise to importantly soon as I
came in contact of an electric snare near tached to the branch of a tree, uplifted they would look into it before ex-
promises, provide if the party received my
a farm in Shahdol. Eleven villagers were the tiger, leaving it suspended in the air. ercising their franchise.
then who elected. I’ll they voter ID.
arrested in connection with the crime. The photos of tiger went viral on social Free Press talked to a few first-
cares about evaluate represent. You won’t
A young leopard died after it got entan- media with caption: tiger commits sui- time voters who turned 18 this
the party. the promises made during But I will believe, my
gled in a snare in Panna South range on cide. year to gauge their sentiments as
What matters most is the their campaign and assess align with the party symbol not decision was made even
March 27. In December 2022, a tiger per- A few weeks ago, a tiger perished after they look forward to casting
individual’s ability to deliver their capability to fulfill those with the candidates. My before the election dates
ished after it got trapped in the wire getting trapped into the electric trap in their vote for the first time.
on their commitments”. promises”. decision is already made”. were announced”.
snare in Panna Tiger Reserve. After tiger Kanha Tiger Reserve. Excerpts: HARDIK SHUKLA ABHAY GUPTA HARSHITA TOMAR SHILPI JAIN
 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Our lives begin to end the day we
become silent about things that matter.
— MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR EDIT
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

SINCE 1928

FOUNDER EDITOR: S SADANAND

Looking for political fodder in Katchatheevu
When arrested, the story the Fisheries, but it has not achieved
Tamil Nadu fishermen narrate to anything other than getting the

Fear shouldn’t Guest the outside world is that they did

not cross Katchatheevu and that
Sri Lankan side to agree to treat
the captured Indians “humanely”
Column the Lankan navy seized them in and release them at the earliest.

guide Rahul
Indian waters. If this were true, In the past, the Northern Tamil
the Indian Coast Guard, which has areas had the reputation of being
÷PK Balachandran bases on the Indian side, would one of the most productive

I
have intercepted the Lankan navy. regions in terms of export-quality

T
ndecision cannot be the hallmark of a party like the he hullabaloo in Tamil
Indian National Congress. Amethi and Raebareli in Nadu over Katchatheevu is-
UP were two constituencies where the party should land in the Palk Strait with
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
have announced its candidates soon after forging an al-
accusing the Congress of giving it
liance with the Samajwadi Party. Alas, these are the two away to Sri Lanka “callously” is at
constituencies where they have not yet decided on their best grist for the BJP’s election
candidates. Sonia Gandhi’s inability to defend Raebareli mill.
is understandable given her medical condition. It is a dif- It has no bearing on the real is-
sue, which is the rather unreason-
ferent matter that it did not prevent her from finding a se- able demand of the Tamil Nadu
cure seat in the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan. The party fishermen that they be allowed to
in UP wanted Rahul Gandhi to contest from Amethi and fish in the Palk Strait, the Palk
his sister Priyanka Gandhi from Raebareli. They are still Bay and even the North Eastern
Jaffna seas because they had been
undecided. Had the party announced their names, it
fishing there for centuries.
would have given its national campaign a head start. For them, the International Mar-
Alas, Rahul Gandhi has decided to contest from itime Boundary drawn up in 1974
Wayanad in Kerala. True, it elected him in 2019 when the and 1976 is of no relevance.
voters of Amethi ditched him in the same election. In her Though the retrieval of
Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka is
time, his grandmother Indira Gandhi contested once portrayed as a solution to the prob-
from Medak in undivided Andhra Pradesh and Chikma-
galur in Karnataka. Of course, she went to the south un-
lem, it is not. The Tamil Nadu fish-
ermen, armed with trawlers that
der different circumstances. However, in the next election scrape the bottom of the shallow
she went back to Raebareli, which accepted her with open sea denuding it of not just fish but
all forms of marine life, had over-
hands. The tradition continued even in 2019 when Sonia fished in the sea next to the Indian
Gandhi was the only Congress candidate to win from Ut- shores and had taken to poaching
tar Pradesh. If Gandhi finally leaves Amethi, it will be a in Sri Lankan waters right up to
bad advertisement for the Congress and the I.N.D.I.A al- the Sri Lankan shores.
They brazenly exploit the rela-
liance it heads. The public perception will be that he is tive weakness of the North Sri
scared of a defeat in Amethi. Lankan Tamil fishermen and the
Politics is the art of the possible, not the art of certainty. feeble response of the government
It does not really matter whether Gandhi wins a seat or in Colombo.
not. We had a prime minister who ruled the country for
But there has not been a single
case of confrontation between the
Indian and Lankan naval person-
nel.
Since the arrest of the fishermen
triggers a hue and cry in Tamil
Nadu, Indian diplomats get them
released promptly. But since this
is treated as a minor inconven-
ience, the boats come back again.
Previously, the Lankan navy used
to open fire, but they don’t fire
even warning shots these days so
as not to annoy the Big Brother.
Sri Lanka had banned trawlers
in 2017, but Indian trawlers come
unchallenged. Lankan Fisheries
Minister Douglas Devananda told
parliament that at least 5,000 bot-
tom trawlers from Pondicherry,
Karaikal, Rameshwaram and Na-
gapattinam enter Sri Lankan wa-
ters week after week to engage in
bottom trawling at the expense of
the livelihoods of local fishermen.
“After the 1976 agreement, the In-
dian mechanised trawlers which
were 36 feet long with 120 horse-
power capacity at that time,
turned out to be 50-60 foot long
massive vessels with 350-550
horsepower engines after 2000,”
Devananda said.
With big Indian boats on the
prowl, the North Lankan Tamil
fishermen do not get enough catch.
seafood. But over time, shrimps,
blue swimming crab and
cuttlefish became the main targets
of Indian bottom trawling, result-
ing in a loss of about US$ 750 mil-
lion annually to Sri Lanka and af-
fecting about 50,000 fisher fami-
lies.
A study quoted in a research pa-
per submitted to the Sir John
Kotelawala Defense University re-
vealed that in 2016 around 1000-
1500 mechanized trawlers were
coming to Palk Strait, Palk Bay
and Gulf of Mannar three days in
a week. They had harvested ap-
proximately 1900 tons of shrimps
and 4000 tons of demersal fish.
The Northern Lankan Tamil
The hullabaloo in Tamil Nadu over Katchatheevu island fishermen were earning just LKR
600 – 800 LKR per day, which was a
in the Palk Strait has no bearing on the real issue, which third of the income they used to
is the rather unreasonable demand of the Tamil Nadu earn before the Indian trawler in-
vasion.
fishermen that they be allowed to fish in the Palk Strait, Sinhalese fishermen from South
the Palk Bay and even the North Eastern Jaffna seas Sri Lanka do fish in Indian waters
but not in the Palk Strait and Palk
Bay. They go to the deep seas in the
“There are days when we return an Indo-Lankan proposal to issue Bay of Bengal and the Arabian
home empty-handed, and there is permits to Indian fishermen to Sea as they use multi-day boats.
not even enough fish for our own fish in Lankan waters. “We will Sometimes they get caught for
consumption,” Rasenthiram never allow such proposals to be fishing in Indian waters and are
Mathiyalahan, secretary of Aad- implemented,” Varnakulasing- released.
hikovilady Fishermen Union in ham, a fisher leader said.
Point Pedro, told Sunday Times. There is an India-Sri Lanka PK Balachandran is a senior journalist
Local fishermen are appalled by Joint Working Group on based in Sri Lanka

Will ‘erroneous judgments’ verdict cause grief?

ten years without winning a seat in the Lok Sabha. In
Gandhi’s own case, he commanded greater support
among the people when he was unseated from Parliament
for a brief while. Given the composition of the electorate,
the UDF led by the Congress would have been able to re- soned though erroneous acquittals away and Prasad did not name the ter to life. food, accommodation, and health
tain Wayanad, if it had fielded a capable, young candidate
from Kerala. In other words, Rahul Gandhi is not indis- Legal when the Supreme Court declares
the law of the land. “In any case,
alleged murderers when his state-
ment was recorded.
Such convictions are the excep-
tions but not the rule. The high-fly-
care to these inmates, however pa-
thetic may be the food, barracks
pensable for the Congress's victory in Wayanad. In Rae-
bareli and Amethi, the Congress has its traditional vote Eagle even if two views are possible and
the trial Judge found the other
view to be more probable, an inter-
The high court overturned this
verdict and chose to believe Beni
Prasad’s testimony. The point being
ing investigative journalist Tarun
Tejpal who allegedly raped his jun-
ior reporter in a moving lift in Goa
and hospitals.
An added factor for the high rate
of acquittals is the corrupt police
bank, besides, of course, the support of the SP and all
those who are put off by the BJP’s haughtiness. How one
÷Olav Albuquerque ference would not have been war- made is that the middle-class was also acquitted by the trial who do shoddy investigations and
ranted by the High Court, unless Indian citizen cannot afford to ap- court judge whose judgment pro- negligent prosecutors who make
wishes Rahul Gandhi had learned from the Bard’s line the view taken by the learned trial peal beyond the high court of his voked high court judge Shirish even shoddier arguments in court

T
that “security is mortal’s chiefest enemy”! he Supreme Court’s latest Judge was a perverse or impossible state to seek justice if his daughter Gupte to remark: “This judgment so the trial court judges are left
verdict on April 2, pro- view,” the bench comprising Jus- is raped and murdered. The reads like a manual on how rape with little choice but to acquit.

Seduction of superstition
nounced by Justices BR tices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta Supreme Court is concerned with victims should behave.” With this dictum pronounced by
Gavai and Sandeep Mehta titled declared. laying down the law of general pub- How the Supreme Court will the Supreme Court, high court
Balmukund versus State of Mad- The two judges dissected the lic importance to the nation and not react to these celebrities accused judges all over the country will be

T
he tale of Naveen Thomas (39), his wife Devi B (39), hya Pradesh may result in grave in-
and their friend Arya B Nair (29) paints a sombre justice to victims of crime because
picture of the depths to which superstition can it lays down the 24 high courts
should not reverse a trial court’s
lead, even in the face of education and modernity. In a acquittal unless the judgment is
world where the worship of Satan persists alongside be-
lief in black magic, their tragic end serves as a chilling
perverse. The word perverse has
not been defined explicitly in law
reminder of the allure of otherworldly promises. As so when a trial court pronounces a
well-reasoned though erroneous
qualified Ayurvedic doctors and a high school teacher, acquittal, the high court will not
one would expect them to be grounded in rationality and quash it.
reason. Yet, their inexplicable decision to forsake this Proving beyond a reasonable
world for an imagined one shows the powerful grip of su- doubt is undoubtedly
unreasonable for the victims of
perstition on the human psyche. Their journey to
crime who are allowed to intervene
Arunachal Pradesh, shrouded in secrecy, ended in a grim but cannot directly address the
discovery — a hotel room stained with their blood, along- court unless they conduct the pros-
side a handwritten note bidding farewell to the world ecution themselves. Prosecutors
they knew where their poor parents who brought them take over after the police file
charge sheets in court with many
up lived only to suffer forever. Their certitude in their ac- loopholes because the police are ei-
tions is unsettling, a testament to the depths of ther corrupt or incompetent. De-
conviction borne from misguided beliefs. fence advocates easily punch holes
Reports suggest that Naveen, the supposed instigator, in the prosecution case to ensure
courts acquit rapists, murderers,
delved into cultic beliefs of life on another planet, fuelled
and money launderers.
by an insatiable thirst for the unknown. The irony of Victims of crime and high court
their backgrounds — a state renowned for its literacy and judges can do little about well-rea-
their own attainment of quality education — serves as a
stark reminder that education alone cannot inoculate
against the seduction of superstition. In a society where Ahimsa and Himsa –
the wealthy and the educated are not immune to the
allure of superstition, the tragedy of Naveen, Devi, and are both valid?
Arya serves as a poignant reminder of the dangers inher- — Swami Brahmavidananda Saraswati
I
ent in blind faith. Their story, a cautionary tale echoing
saw a movie recently in Similarly a hundred
Madhya Pradesh high court judg-
ment which reversed the acquittal
of one Balmakund whose sister,
Anita, had married a man and later
married another man. The first
husband, Mahesh Sahu, kept in
touch with his wife by writing let-
ters that infuriated Balmukund
and his mother Jamna Bai. On
June 7, 1992, the father of Mahesh
Sahu, Beni Prasad, and his wife,
Sumitra Bai, were told that Ballu
alias Balram, alias Balmukund
was beating his son.
When he rushed out in his under-
wear and banyan, he found Bal-
mukund dragging the corpse of his
son ten feet from his house and
leaving it there. He also saw Bal-
mukund’s mother washing blood
stains from the door of her house.
This seems to be a case of eyewit-
ness accounts and not circumstan-
tial evidence as erroneously
opined. The trial judge disbelieved
the evidence of the victim’s father,
Beni Prasad, because there was a
police chowky a short distance
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
Getting rid of waste must
be systematic
with individual cases. Special of serious crimes is anybody’s
Victims of crime and high court judges can do little
about well-reasoned though erroneous acquittals when
the Supreme Court declares the law of the land
Leave Petitions that do not raise guess because the top court is
questions of law for the nation are unimpressed by a litigant’s name
dismissed in 90-second non-speak- or fame. The smart tactic of big law
ing orders without reasons. firms representing celebrities is to
This is why this judgment needs file an appeal and allow it to lie in
to be reviewed because there are the docket of the Supreme Court so
innumerable cases where the trial it dies a natural death over time.
court judge has not recorded the Just like celebrity film star Sanjay
evidence correctly or vital eyewit- Dutt who was convicted for
nesses are threatened against com- keeping AK-47 rifles in his home
ing to court and deposing. Two god- during the Mumbai riots but spent
men among at least seven like more time out on parole than in
Asaram Bapu who raped and killed jail.
a 16-year-old girl and Baba Ram The jurisprudence of the last 25
Rahim who raped and murdered years has changed to bail is the
one of his followers are cooling rule and jail the exception to judges
their heels in jail. A Jodhpur court preferring to acquit rather than
sentenced the former to life while a convict so the state government
Panchkula court sentenced the lat- will not be forced to furnish free
attractive and sustainable environment.
Proper management of e-waste will help
your community prevent communicable
diseases and safeguard the environment in
a sustainable manner.
Shanthi Ramanathan, Mumbai
left with little choice but to dismiss
appeals because there are few per-
verse judgments.
Evidence wrongly recorded,
wrongly evaluated because wit-
nesses are coerced not to depose, or
chief ministers coercing prosecu-
tors through their directors of
prosecution not to seek convictions
are more common. Judgments ac-
quitting these criminals are well-
reasoned but not perverse. A con-
scientious and intelligent high
court judge like Justice Abhijit
Gangopadhyay who resigned to
join politics after complaining to
his chief justice that he was pre-
vented from doing justice is more
common than so-called perverse
judgments.
That is why the Justices of the
high courts do not always succeed
in doing justice to the common
man.
Olav Albuquerque holds a PhD in law
and is a senior journalist and advocate
at the Bombay High Court
to be clarified by the judiciary. But
suggesting imposition of President’s rule is
definitely not a sound solution. There is a
state — Manipur — where nothing is in
order. Law and order is in chaos, the
government is clueless and lacks power to
restore normalcy. Now suggesting

T
through the corridors of time, underscores the impor-
tance of critical thinking and rationality in navigating
which one of the char-
acters kept spouting —
years before Tibet was tak-
en over by the Chinese, the
he common practice for household
refuse disposal in rural areas is to dump
Timely submission President’s rule in Delhi seems an
emotional statement more than a rational
the complexities of existence. ‘Ahimsa paramo dharma’, Chinese army had solid wastes openly in backyard gardens of spends one. We also need to remember that the

INDIA 75 YEARS AGO

almost as a form of greet-
ing. It means that Non-vio-
lence is the highest Dhar-
FPJ Archives ma. People love this quote.
MARCH 5, 1949
Very few people know
where this quote is from.
This quote is found all
over the Mahabharata. But
what is quoted is only half
the verse.
The second half is Dhar-
ma Himsa Tathaiva cha.
For the sake of Dhar-
ma, himsa, violence
should also be con-
sidered equally
valid as non-vio-
attacked them. Although
the Tibetans were strong
enough to throw them out,
a hundred years of over-
commitment to peace, led
them to be an ineffectual
country.
So, when the Chinese
army walked in, they
could do nothing much to
resist.
In fact, the leader had to
escape to India.
And for the last 70
years, he has been
peacefully trying
to resolve the situa-
or in an open space. Such indiscriminate
disposal is an environmental hazard and
can threaten human health and safety.
Solid waste that is improperly disposed of
can result in a number of problems. It can
create a breeding ground for pathogenic
microorganisms and vectors of disease,
and cause a public nuisance due to
unsightliness and bad smell. It can cause
contamination of surrounding soil,
groundwater and surface water, and it can
also create fire hazards, physical hazards
and have poisoning effects (from
pesticides and insecticides). However,
these problems can be avoided by using
appropriate management techniques. For
all waste management issues, your role
Y et another directive from the Election
Commision, this time asking candidates
contesting the Lok Sabha election to
submit expenditure statements within 30
days of the announcement of the results.
This is to ensure transparency and
accountability. Good thoughts, hope it
works. However, it would be good if
VVPAT slips could be deposited in Ballot a
Boxes and counted instead of the
electronic votes. This may perhaps bring
about more transparency in the electoral
system.
Melville X D’Souza, Mumbai
President’s rule is
charges on the CM are yet to be proved
and his questions are yet to be answered.
A G Rajmohan, Anantapur
Spiritual delight
R eading the Guiding Light column in the
Spirituality section every morning is a
pleasure as well as a sort of awakening. It
educates, engages, entertains and is
intellectually rewarding. It charges our
batteries and powers our intellect which
runs through the whole day. More than IQ
or EQ it is SQ –spiritual quotient, which
matters.
TS Karthik, Chennai

lence. Most
GUIDING LIGHT
people omit
this part.
If one considers only the
first part, then we get into
problematic situations.
Like what happened to us
in 1962 with China. The
then leaders of the country
were presenting India as a
paragon of peace. In fact,
Jawaharlal Nehru believed
that we did not need an
army. The police force was
good enough, which is
laughable.
When the Chinese army
attacked, we hardly had
arms to defend ourselves.
We were fighting with
INDIA BUYS MORE DOLLARS FROM World War II vintage rifles.
WORLD FUND; QUOTA EBBING OUT It is only the courage and
the violent sacrifice of our
Washington, March 4. India has purchased a further 24,180,000 soldiers that limited the
dollars from the International Monetary Fund and is now within damage done.
about 8,000,000 dollars of her total current purchasing authority.
tion, to no should be to engage community members not logical Dear reader,
T
We are eager to know your opinions, comments and
avail. and families in awareness of the solid he editorial ‘Constitutional conundrum’ suggestions. Write to letters@fpj.co.in with the title of the
One cannot waste problems in their area and try to (Apr 1) seems emotional more than letter in the subject line. Using snail mail? Send your letters
be over committed to the change their behavior. In doing so, it logical. Executing the functioning of a chief to The Free Press Journal, Free Press House, Free Press
idea of peace. One has to should be possible to have a clean, minister from prison is, no doubt, a matter Marg, 215 Nariman Point, Mumbai 400021.
recognise that there is a
time for peace and a time MIKA’S MATRIX
for war. The Indian prac-
tice of resolving conflicts
is Saama (conciliation),
Daana (Giving gifts), Bhe-
da (Dissension), Danda
(punishment).
The UN Charter also
agrees that War is the last
act of diplomacy. While
ahimsa is a good value to
follow in one’s life one also
needs to be ready for war.
One cannot avoid that.
The writer is the founder of
Aarsha Vidya Foundation. You
can write to him at
aarshavidyaf@gmail.com
 WORLD
Oklahoma executes man convicted of double slaying in 2002
MCALESTER (US): A man convicted of shooting and killing two people in Oklahoma City
more than two decades ago was executed Thursday morning. Michael Dewayne Smith
received a lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester and was
pronounced dead at 10:20 a.m.
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

GLOBAL BULLETIN As Russia's war in Ukraine gnaws at its unity... Clashes in Iran's
NATO marks its 75th b’day
Police arrest
22 in EU raids
BRUSSELS: Police in Italy,
southeast kill 18
Austria, Romania and
Slovakia arrested 22
people Thursday as part of A bigger celebration militants & 10 troops
an investigation into the
suspected siphoning of
is planned when AGENCIES
Dubai (United Arab Emirates)
The fighting
hundreds millions of Euros NATO leaders meet erupted overnight
in post-pandemic relief
in Washington from Iran's state media said in Sistan and
funds from the European security forces were Baluchistan
Union (EU). The 600
July 9 to 11
After major quake,
able to release hostages
million Euros (USD 650 taken by gunmen Thurs- province when
million) were part of Italy's day following clashes in gunmen opened fire
post-pandemic money, the
European Public rescuers in Taiwan search AGENCIES
Brussels
three separate areas in
southeastern Iran that on Revolutionary
for those missing
Prosecutor's Office (EPPO)
said. The EPPO said it
left 18 militants and 10 Guard posts in Rask
NATO marked on Thursday 75 troops dead.
suspects a criminal years of collective defense The gunmen took sev- and Sarbaz towns
organization of having
diverted the non-
HUALIEN (TAIWAN): Rescuers searched across Europe and North Amer- eral civilians hostage at and a coast guard
Thursday for missing people and worked to reach ica, with its top diplomats vow- two sites and some of
refundable funds from the hundreds stranded when Taiwan's strongest ing to stay the course in Ukraine the assailants wore sui-
station in
Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib (L) and NATO Secretary
Italian National Recovery earthquake in 25 years sent boulders and mud as better-armed Russian troops General Jens Stoltenberg cut a cake at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels cide vests, state TV re- Chahbahar city,
and Resilience Plan
between 2021 and 2023.
tumbling down mountainsides, blocking roads.
Ten people died and more than 1,000 were
assert control on the battlefield.
The anniversary comes as the tems, drones and artillery scores of others looked down
ported. Shootouts en-
sued before security
some 1,400
injured. The powerful quake struck during the now-32-nation alliance weighs a shells. from glassed walkways and forces gained control of kilometers
PTI calls off morning rush hour a day earlier, sending school- plan to provide more predictable "We need to give these systems stairways as Belgian and Dutch the three areas. southeast of Tehran,
children rushing outdoors and families fleeing longer-term military support to which we are not using to military bands played the NATO The 10 security forces
Islamabad rally their apartments through the windows. The Ukraine. Plagued by ammuni- Ukraine, to take and protect Hymn, the original Washington killed included six mem- the agency said
ISLAMABAD: Citing ground floors of some buildings collapsed, leav- tion shortages, Ukraine this their people, civil infrastructure Treaty laid before them. bers of the Revolution-
religious reasons, jailed ing them leaning at precarious angles. Though week lowered the military con- and also energy infrastructure," "I like the Washington Treaty. ary Guard and its affiliated troops, two policemen
former Pakistan prime the island is regularly rattled by earthquakes and scription age from 27 to 25 in an he said, before a ceremony with Not least because it is very and two members of coast guard, state TV said. At
minister Imran Khan's generally well prepared, authorities did not send effort to replenish its depleted his counterparts to mark the short," NATO Secretary General least 10 others were injured, some of them in serious
party has announced out the usual alerts because they were expecting ranks. day NATO's founding treaty was Jens Stoltenberg said with a condition, it said.
cancelling its much-hyped a smaller temblor. Some residents of the eastern "Ukraine is under heavy at- signed: April 4, 1949, in Washing- smile. "Just 14 paragraphs over State media blamed the militant group Jaish al-
rally that was scheduled to coastal city of Hualien near the epicentre were tacks, like daily, 24-seven," Es- ton. a few pages. Never has a single Adl, which allegedly seeks greater rights for the eth-
be held here on Saturday staying in tents, and the main road linking the tonian Foreign Minister Margus Hundreds of staffers filled the document with so few words nic Baluch minority. No group claimed
to demand the release of county to the capital, Taipei, was still closed Tsahkna told reporters, appeal- vast air terminal-like space at meant so much to so many peo- responsibility. Authorities arrested two militants
the party founder, who Thursday afternoon, but much of Taiwan's day- ing for more military materiel the centre of NATO's sprawling ple. So much security. So much from the group Thursday on suspicion of involve-
has been incarcerated to-day life returned to normal. for Ukraine like air defense sys- Brussels headquarters, while prosperity, and so much peace." ment in the clashes, state TV said.
since August last year after
his conviction in various

School constructed
cases. Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf (PTI) chairman
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan Maldives still considers KUWAIT VOTES IN ITS 4TH ELECTION
took to X on Wednesday
with Indian assistance DUBAI
to inform his party's
India as a friend: Minister inaugurated in Nepal
K
supporters that the uwait held
decision has been taken national elections
because of the Laylat-ul- AGENCIES Within hours of dives," Sun.mv news portal AGENCIES on Thursday for
Qadr - the blessed night Male quoted Saeed as saying. Kathmandu the fourth time in as
that Muslims seek in the taking oath last Saeed also stressed that many years as the oil-
odd-numbered nights of The Maldives still consid- November, Muizzu, Maldives still considers In- A set of buildings for a rich country seeks to
the last 10 days of
Ramzan, Geo News
ers India a friend, the
tourism-dependent coun-
known for his pro- dia a friend as he said: "Of
course, we are friends
government secondary
school, constructed under
break out of its
longstanding political
reported. try's economic minister China leanings, asked (with both). What our pres- the 'Nepal-India Develop- gridlock.
has said while defending India to withdraw its ident, our government and ment Cooperation' was in- The Persian Gulf
Russia launches President Mohamed Muiz- the people reject is the augurated at Rawa Basi in country's elected
zu's stand against the pres- 88 military personnel presence of foreign sol- Khotang district on assembly has more
attack on Kharkiv ence of "foreign soldiers" from the country, diers here." Muizzu has re- Thursday, in the latest power than most in
KYIV: Russian troops in the archipelago nation peatedly affirmed that no such effort by India to the Arab world, but
launched waves of Shahed in the Indian Ocean. saying their presence Indian military personnel, help improve the educa- has long been at
drones against the Within hours of taking was a threat to not even those in civilian tion sector in the Hi- loggerheads with the
Ukrainian city of Kharkiv oath last November, Muiz- clothing, would be present malayan nation. government, which is
overnight, killing four zu, known for his pro-Chi-
Maldives' sovereignty inside his country after The Indian grant assis- appointed by the royal
people and wounding 12, na leanings, asked India to May 10. tance of NR 36.10 million family.
regional Gov. Oleh withdraw its 88 military sponded that Maldives is a While the first batch of was utilised for the con- These are the first
Syniehubov said Thursday. personnel from the friend of all countries, not Indian military personnel struction of a double-sto- elections since Sheikh
Russia attacked Ukraine's country, saying their pres- just the two. manning a helicopter has ried school building, hos- Meshal Al Ahmad Al
second-biggest city with ence was a threat to Mal- "I think the Maldives is a left the country, Muizzu tel building and procure- Jaber, 83, assumed
at least 15 drones, some dives' sovereignty. friend of all the countries, said that the troops sta- ment of furniture for both power after the death
of which were shot down During an interview with not only two countries. We tioned on the second plat- the buildings for Shree of his half brother in
by air defense. Turkey-based news outlet are a tourist country and form will be withdrawn Sharada Secondary December.
Three rescuers were killed TRT World on Wednesday, open to the world. As a hol- within the current month. School, Rawa Besi rural
when Russia struck a Maldives' Economic Minis- iday destination, we are ap- The Indian military per- municipality in Khotang
multistory building ter Mohamed Saeed was preciated by both Chinese sonnel operating the third district, about 260 km

MIGRATION
damaged in an earlier
strike. Six people were
wounded at that location.
asked whether Male can be
friends with both China
and India, to which he re-
and Indians. As far as trade
is concerned, both markets
are important to the Mal-
aviation platform will be
withdrawn by May 10, he
has said.
south-east of Kathmandu,
according to a press re-
lease from the Indian Em-
Finland to keep its
bassy here.
border with Russia closed
CONCERNS
The school buildings
Crossword #1096 YOUR DAY By Vinayak Vishwas Karandikar were jointly inaugurated
ross
1 Dachshund doc
ARIES: Control your LIBRA : Control anger
by San Bahadur Rai, chair
of the District Coordina-
tion Committee, Phatik
until further notice
anger to avoid in commercial and

T
4 Camera type
7 Light wood disputes. Expect family life. Expenditure Kumar Shrestha, the AGENCIES he Finnish Interior Ministry said in a statement that
9 Crown Chairman of Rawa Besi Helsinki the Nordic country's national security and public
expenditure for house for spouse or business order would come under serious threat if the
12 Resinous balm Rural Municipality and
13 Start and premium. People in fields like is expected. People in fields like Suman Shekhar, First Sec- Finland will extend the clo- estimated hundreds of third-country nationals were to
14 Rigorous medicine, insurance and research event management and gyms will retary, Embassy of India. sure of its border crossing continue to attempt to enter from Russia without proper
15 Riches will do well. Repairing of house or benefit. Dispute with spouse is documentation.
17 "Before" or "earlier" as Established in 1952, the points with Russia beyond
a prefix vehicle is indicated. Mental or indicated. Some people may suffer Sharada Secondary the current April 14 dead-
18 Satisfy the ___ man : physical stress is indicated. from back pain. School provides education line "until further notice" kilometre land border late Egypt, Iraq, Somalia, Syria
have something to from Class 1 to the plus due to a high risk of organ- last year after more than and Yemen. The vast major-
eat? TAURUS : Conflict in SCORPIO: Today is the two levels and there are ised migration orchestrated 1,300 migrants without ity of them have sought
20 Latin trio career and married life day to control anger in over 365 students, half of by Moscow, the Finnish gov- proper documentation or asylum in Finland, a Euro-
21 Word form for
''within'' is indicated. Expect commercial and family them girls. The project ernment said on Thursday. visas - an unusually high pean Union member state
22 Aviation Safety expenditure for life. Expect expenditure was taken up as a High Im- "Based on information number - entered the coun- with a population of 5.6
Reporting Sys. business and property. People from for health/ house. People in fields pact Community Develop- provided by public author- try in the three months million.
23 Great disaster shut device? 16 "H" in "HMV" travel, maintenance, security or like garage and construction will ment Project (HICDP), ities, the risk that instru- since September, not long The Finnish Border
27 Beauty powder 2 What ___ is new : 19 Our (French) earlier known as Small mentalised migration (by after Finland joined the Guard has earlier said that
28 Fully developed conversational 21 And so on abbr. technical fields will do well. get success. Dispute with mother or Development Projects, un- Russia) will resume and NATO alliance. many migrants hold valid
29 Gad's son? statement? 22 Primate Dispute with spouse or dispute over ill health of mother is indicated.
30 Colander
der an agreement between expand as seen previously Most of the migrants hail visas for working or study-
3 Russian empress 23 Enrico ____ : famous travel is possible. You may have a headache. the Government of India remains likely," the min- from the Middle East and ing - or have a residence per-
32 BSE deal 4 Civil War writer of Italian singer ?
35 Filthy on account of Uncle Tom's Cabin, 24 Joins up with and the Government of istry said. Africa, from countries in- mit - in Russia, which is con-
long neglect
GEMINI : Gains are SAGITTARIUS : Nepal. Finland closed the 1,340- cluding Afghanistan, sidered a safe country.
fame? 25 Competitors
37 Pineapple 5 A luxury ___ : a 26 Unlocking or expected after stress Today is the day to
39 Make a sound while passenger ship with revealing? or struggle. Expect travel/ enjoy with
in deep sleep all the luxuries on 27 Leaf drink expenditure for care. Expect to Killing of Polish aid worker in Gaza
40 Small
41 Kind of willow used
for basket making
42 Spy
board
6 Tabula ____ : clean
slate
30
31
32
Indian lady's garb
Non reactive
__ ___ form: in good
travel/ health /study. People
from security / maintenance/
spend on property and
premium. People in fields like
SHEHBAZ: Govt will Diplomatic crisis
7 Famous prizefighter nick (2,3) armed forces will be benefited. sports and security will do well.
43 After all
considerations; final,
as in, "___ result"?
and actor - "bear"
anagram ?
8 Restitution
33
34
36
Arthropod feeler
Sugar suffix
English batsman ___
Dispute with maternal relatives
is indicated. Some people may
There may be a dispute in the
family. Some people may suffer
probe threat letter laced erupts between
44 Govt. statistic
Down
1 Regulated open-and-
10 Derive pleasure from
11 Formal clothes
12 Mayawati's party
38
Morgan
Like _ __ of bricks :
rather heavily? (1,3)
suffer from eye problem.
CANCER : Loss is
indicated in personal
from ear pain or eye problems.
CAPRICORN : Today
is the day to be with
with ‘suspicious powder’ Poland and Israel
Solution ISLAMABAD WARSAW: A new diplomatic crisis be-
33 Palp, 34 Ose, 36 Eoin, 38 A ton. and commercial life. family. Expenditure ABOUT THE LETTERS tween Poland and Israel has erupted fol-

22 Ape, 23 Caruso, 24 Aligns, 25 Rivals, 26 Opening, 27 Tea, 30 Saree, 31 Inert, 32 In top, Expect expenditure for
business or children. People from
5 Liner, 6 Rasa, 7 Baer, 8 Amends, 10 Relish, 11 Attire, 12 BSP, 16 His, 19 Notre, 21 Etc,
39 Snore, 40 Little, 41 Osier, 42 Snoop, 43 Net, 44 GNP. Down: 1 Valve, 2 Else, 3 Tsarina, 4 Stowe,
21 Endo, 22 ASRS, 23 Catastrophe, 27 Talc, 28 Ripe, 29 Eri, 30 Sieve, 32 IPO, 35 Augean, 37 Ananas, occult/ insurance/ technical/ security
Across: 1 Vet, 4 SLR, 7 Balsa, 9 Tiara, 12 Balsam, 13 Onset, 14 Severe, 15 Wealth, 17 Pre, 18 Inner, 20 III, will be benefited. You may have a
dispute with in-laws or children.
Watch out for back pain.
FPJ - SUDOKU - 89 Level: Very easy
LEO : Today is a day to
solve problems at work
and home. Investment
or expenditure for
business, education and travel is
expected. People in fields like
education will get success. Dispute
among family members is
indicated.
VIRGO : Today is a day
to gain something
after losing something.
Expect expenditure for
health/ premiums/ travel. People in
fields like medicine and
WHAT TO DO: Fill in the grid so that
insurance will benefit. Dispute
every row, every column and every 3x3 with parents or in-laws is
box contains the digits 1 to 9. Every indicated. Some of you may
puzzle has only one correct solution. suffer from constipation.
for house or vehicle
is indicated. People in fields like
construction will be benefited.
There may be family disputes.
Some people may suffer from
acidity.
AQUARIUS : Today is a
day to concentrate on
your work. Health,
travel and career will
take up expenses. Barbers or those
in the technical or armed forces will
get success. Domestic life may be
disturbed due to workload. You
may suffer from knee pain.
PISCES : Today is a
day to travel with
caution. Expect
expenditure for
children, sports and
travel.People in fields like police
will do well. Troubles in
travelling are indicated. Some
people may suffer from
toothache or eye problems.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz
Sharif on Thursday said the gov-
ernment will launch a probe into
threat letters laced with a "suspi-
cious powder" received by the
judges of the Supreme Court and
the high courts in Islamabad and
Lahore. Eight judges of Islamabad
High Court (IHC) and three judges
of Lahore High Court received
threatening letters with white pow-
der suspected to be anthrax.
"The letters that were sent to vari-
ous judges yesterday, and the re-
ports that have emerged about a
suspicious powder in them [.] So I
think that we should show full re-
sponsibility on this and not let any
kind of politics near this [matter],"
Dawn News quoted the prime min-
ister as saying during a cabinet
meeting here.
"The government of Pakistan,
with a sense of responsibility, will
investigate this," Sharif said.
The staff of two judges, who had
opened the envelopes and found a
suspicious powder inside, reported
the matter to the IHC registrar who
summoned the police officials de-
T
he letters, delivered to all
the judges in white
envelopes sealed with cello
tape, had their names and the
court's address written over
them. The letters carried a
threatening sign and accused
the judges of being responsible
for problems faced by the
people of Pakistan, the report
said.
puted for security of the court.
A case has been registered and ac-
cording to the FIR, the letters were
issued with an incomplete address
of the sender.
The letters while giving reference
to Tehreek-i-Namoos Pakistan crit-
icised the justice system, with a
particular photo and English word
"Bacillus Anthracis" included for
the threat, the FIR said.
Similar letters arrived in the
Supreme Court and the Lahore
High Court (LHC) the next day,
prompting the Counter-Terrorism
Department (CTD) to register two
cases in Islamabad and Lahore.
lowing the death of a Polish aid worker in
Gaza, with the Polish president on Thurs-
day denouncing a comment by the Israeli
ambassador as "outrageous" and the For-
eign Ministry in Warsaw saying it was
summoning him for a meeting.
A 35-year-old Polish man was among
seven people who were killed while deliv-
ering food to besieged Palestinians with
the charity World Central Kitchen. Israel
has called the incident a "mistake" that
followed a misidentification. The charity
said its vehicles were clearly marked.
Amid shock in Poland over the death of
the charity worker, Israel's ambassador
to Poland, Yacov Livne, pushed back at
what he said were attempts by the "ex-
treme right and left in Poland" to accuse
Israel of "intentional murder in the at-
tack." He said on social media on
Tuesday that "anti-Semites will always
remain anti-Semites, and Israel will re-
main a democratic Jewish state that
fights for its right to exist. Also for the
good of the entire Western world." Polish
President Andrzej Duda on Thursday
called the comment "outrageous" and de-
scribed the ambassador as "the biggest
problem for the state of Israel in rela-
tions with Poland."
 TEN TO TANGO MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

Six-hitting PBKS pocket

last over thriller
IPL CORNER
Russell 2nd KKR player to scalp 100
slugfest on card to notch up their
second victory
Visakhapatnam: Kolkata Knight
Riders (KKR) bowling allrounder
Andre Russell became the

SHASHANK
Mustafizur-less CSK face unpredictable second player to scalp 100
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Sunrisers Hyderabad wickets for his franchise. The
PTI / HYDERABAD Caribbean allrounder achieved
SQUADS (FROM): the milestone during KKR's clash

REDEMPTION
Without their in-form bowler SRH: J Unadkat, J against Delhi Capitals (DC) in the
Mustafzur Rahman, Chennai Subramanyan, T Natarajan, M IPL 2024 on Wednesday.
Super Kings will need to Markande, B Kumar, F In the first inning, Russell scored
sharpen their all-round game Farooqi, P Cummins (c), W 41 runs from 19 balls at a strike
when they take on an unpre- Sundar, S Ahmed, S Singh, G rate of 215.79. He slammed 4 fours and 3 overhead boundaries.
dictable Sunrisers Phillips, N Reddy, M Jansen, A Meanwhile, in the second inning, the 35-year-old picked up one
Hyderabad in the IPL here on Sharma, U Yadav, R Tripathi, PTI / AHMEDABAD wicket in his 1.2-over spell. The Caribbean dismissed Anrich
Friday. A Markram, H Klaasen, T Nortje in the 18th over to end Delhi Capitals' inning.
Consistency is the hall- Head, A Singh, M Agarwal, A Shashank Singh and
mark of CSK who would be Samad, A M Singh, W Ashutosh Sharma and Betting racket busted in Indore
looking to restore normal Hasaranga, U Malik. cameo enabled Punjab Kings Indore: The Indore police claimed to have busted a racket
service following their first CSK: MS Dhoni, A Avanish, D win a yet another last-over involving betting of crores of rupees on the ongoing Indian
loss of the season against Del- Conway, R Gaikwad (c), A thriller in the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket matches and arrested eight persons
hi Capitals. Rahane, S Rasheed, M Ali, S Premier league here on in this connection, an official said on Thursday. Based on a tip-
It is a long tournament and Dube, RS Hangargekar, R Thursday. off, the eight persons were apprehended on Wednesday night
an odd dip in performance is Jadeja, A J Mandal, D Set to score 200 for win, PBKS from a flat in a multi-storey building in Lasudia area here in
expected, as mentioned by the Mitchell, R Ravindra, M won by three wickets and one Madhya Pradesh when they were making people place bets
CSK captain Ruturaj Gaik- Santner, N Sindhu, D Chahar, ball to spare. online on the IPL matches through a website, Additional Deputy
wad after the game in T Deshpande, M Choudhary, Shashank was unbeaten on Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Rajesh Dandotia said. The
Visakhapatnam. M Pathirana, S Singh, P 61. accused had obtained mobile phone SIM cards in fake names
However, he and his open- Solanki, S Thakur, M Earlier, skipper Shubman and used to take betting amounts from people through QR
ing partner Rachin Ravindra Theekshana, S Rizvi. Gill led from the front with SQUADS (FROM): codes, the official said.
will need to be ready for the an unbeaten fifty to steer Gu- GT: W Saha c Dhawan b
moving ball after being found jarat Giants to an imposing Rabada 11, S Gill (c) 89*, K Batter commends Ishant Sharma
wanting on that front against Head-To-Head 199 for four. Williamson c Bairstow b H Visakhapatnam: Delhi Capitals'
Delhi. CSK SRH Gill made 89 off 48 balls, Brar 26, S Sudharsan c pacer Ishant Sharma pulled off a
The majority of cricketing the highest individual Sharma b Patel 33, V sensational yorker to rattle the
world wants M S Dhoni to bat 19 Matches Played 19 score this season so far, and Shankar c H Brar b Rabada 8, defence of Kolkata Knight Riders'
higher than number eight, es- 14 Won 5 in the process hit six fours R Tewatia 23* all-rounder Andre Russell during
pecially after his 16-ball 37 in 5 Lost 14 and four sixes to guide GT's Extras: (lb-5, w-4): 9 the IPL 2024 clash between two
his very first outing with the 223 Highest score 192 innings, which was also Total: 199-4 teams on Wednesday. The
bat this season. 132 Lowest score 134 helped generously by B Sai FoW: 1-29, 2-69, 3-122, 4- incident took place in the final
However, that is unlikely to Sudharsan's 19-ball 33 and 164 over of the KKR's batting when
happen as Dhoni would want at the Rajiv Gandhi Interna- Rahul Tewatia's 8-ball 23. Bowling: H Brar 4-0-33-1, A Russell was floored after his
the likes of Shivam Dube and tional Cricket Stadium. Sent into bat, opener Gill Singh 4-0-33-0, K Rabada 4- stumps rattled by a searing
Sameer Rizvi to finish the job The batters will take im- made a rousing start to the 0-44-2, S Curran 2-0-18-0, H yorker off Ishant Sharma. After
ahead of him. mense confidence from their innings as he clobbered Patel 4-0-44-1, S Raza 2-0- he got up, Russell was in awe of Ishant's bowling as he
In the bowling department, record showing against spinner Harpreet Brar 22-0 applauded him by clapping with his bat. Andre Russell was
CSK will need to rethink Mumbai Indians here. The straight over his head for PBKS: S Dhawan b Yadav 1, J unleashing his firepower as he played a brilliant knock of 41 off
their combination with pressure is piling up on open- the first six of the match. Bairstow 18 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, at an impressive strike
Mustafzur back in er Mayank Agarwal who is Runs flowed for GT till b N Ahmad 22, P Singh c rate of 215.79 to help Kolkata Knight Riders post a solid total of
Bangladesh to process his yet to make an impact. the third over before Sharma b N Ahmad 35, S 272/7 in 20 overs.
visa for the T20 World Cup in The game against Gujarat Kagiso Rabada (2/44) oust- Curran c Williamson b A
the USA and Caribbean. Titans was Sunrisers' first ed Wriddhiman Saha, Omarzai 5, S Raza c Saha b Pant fined Rs 24 lakh over rate offence
The overseas combine of batting failure in the tourna- latched by PBKS skipper Sharma 15, S Singh 61*, Visakhapatnam: Delhi Capitals

300 14.9
Mustafzur and Matheesha ment and they would be look- Shikhar Dhawan at mid- Sixes in IPL Kagiso J Sharma c Nalkande b R captain Rishabh Pant has been
Pathirana had been working ing for immediate course cor- off. 2024. It has Rabada's Khan 16, A Sharma c R Khan fined Rs 24 lakh for a second
well for CSK who could bring rection. Kane Williamson (26 off taken only strike b Nalkande 31, H Brar over rate offence in the 2024
in a like-for-like replacement Even on the bowling front, 22), who replaced injured 3773 balls this year, rate in the IPL - the best 1* Indian Premier League. Pant was
for the Bangladesh cricketer the likes of Jaydev Unadkat, David Miller, looked in comfortably fewer than the out of all the bowlers with Extras: (lb-8, w-5) 13 guilty of maintaining a slow-
in Mukesh Choudhary. Mayank Markande and Bhu- great touch as he hit Sam next best, in 2018 (4578) minimum 100 wickets Total: 200-7 over in the game against Kolkata
Shardul Thakur is vneshwar Kumar Curran and Rabada for a FoW: 1-13, 2-48, 3-64, 4-70, Knight Riders here on
also yet to get a have proved expen- few boundaries to keep GT 5-111, 6-150, 7-193 Wednesday. The rest of his

22 06
game thus far. sive. The seasoned scoreboard ticking. Fifty-plus scores Aggressive shots Bowling: A Omarzai 4-0-41-1, teammates were fined 25
Their opposition Bhuvneshwar has Sikandar Raza was taken for Shubman Gill in the 35 balls U Yadav 3-0-35-1, R Khan 4- percent of their match fees.
Sunrisers Hyder- Match starts at especially been dis- to task by Gill and new man - seven of those faced by Saha 0-40-1, N Ahmad 4-0-32-2, "Rishabh Pant, the Delhi Capitals
abad will be looking 7.30 pm appointing with the Sudharshan as the duo are unbeaten scores. He's and Williamson put M Sharma 4-0-38-1, D captain, has been fined after his
to make the most of Live on new ball and is yet picked up 14 runs off the scoring a fifty every 4.2 together. Sudharsan himself Nalkande team maintained a slow over rate during their TATA Indian
home comforts in Star Sports to pick up a wicket 12th over, courtesy three innings in the IPL has hit 8 in 12 balls. 0.5-0-6-1 Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Kolkata Knight
their second game in three games. hits to the fence. Riders..." said the IPL in a statement.

Coach Ricky Ponting ceptable and a lot of things

we will talk as a group
DELHI
CAPITAL'S From unsung hero to Indian
lashes out at his team
tonight that we have to fix

Premier League sensation

PTI / VISAKHAPATNAM
Delhi Capitals head coach
Ricky Ponting has lashed
out at his side after the unac-
ceptable and embarrassing
106-run battering at the
hands of Kolkata Knight
Riders.
The Capitals endured a
forgettable outing here on
Wednesday, first conceding
272 runs in the allotted 20
overs and then getting
bowled out for 166 in 17.2
overs for one of their heavi-
est defeats in the tourna-
ment's history.
'Our bowlers were all over the place...'
"It's pretty hard to assess
right now. I mean I was al-
most embarrassed with our
first half of the game today,"
Ponting said at the post-
match press conference.
"To concede that many
runs...we bowled 17 wides
and it took us two hours to
bowl our overs as well, so we
were two overs behind
again, which means the
guys bowling last two overs
only get to bowl with four
fieldsmen outside the cir-
cle."
"Lot of things happened
in this game that were unac-
immediately to go forward MISERABLE
in the competition. There NIGHT
will be some good open dis-
cussions in the changing
106
room for sure," Ponting said.
Runs they
lost to KKR
Angkrish Raghuvanshi thanks 'guru' Abhishek Nayar
Skipper Rishabh Pant not after stunning fifty against Delhi Capitals
going for review on a couple
of occasions did not help 272 PTI / VISAKHAPATNAM
DC's cause, one of them in- Runs ANGKRISH
conceding
cluding Player of the Match Angkrish Raghuvanshi re- RAGHUVAN
Sunil Narine, who set up the mained unsung despite SHI
game for KKR with his 39- It's pretty hard to assess right now. I 166 amassing 278 runs during In-
54
ball 85. mean I was almost embarrassed with our Bowled out dia's triumphant U-19 World
in 17.2 Runs
Narine was batting on 24 first half of the game today overs Cup campaign in 2022.
when Ishant Sharma ex- – Ricky Ponting, DC, head coach But on Wednesday, Raghu-
pressed confidence that the vanshi waived his anonymity 27
all-rounder had edged the talk to Rishabh about those. casions. But 17 in a matter of 27 balls, paving Balls
ball, but by the time Pant I mean, obviously, Rishabh look, at the Wides the way for Kolkata Knight
conceded
had signalled to the umpire
for a review, the time was up.
hasn't heard them, other
fielders and bowlers did
end of the
day, they are
wides,
around 2.5
Riders' 106-run hammering
of Delhi Capitals in the Indi- 05
4s
"I haven't had a chance to hear something on both oc- little things. overs an Premier League here.
Coming from the Abhishek
Nayar school of coaching, the 03
'He vents out his anger at me'
ROHAN SEN / MUMBAI The trio, along with fran-
18-year-old played down his
effort and thanked his guru,
saying he has influenced him It was pretty simple, the way I have been practicing the
6s

IANS / VISAKHAPATNAM
After Delhi Capitals suffered
a heavy 106-run defeat to
Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL
2024, captain Rishabh Pant
admitted that his bowlers
were all over the place in a to-
tal forgettable effort with the
ball.
Sunil Narine (85),
Angkrish Raghuvanshi (54),
Andre Russell (41) and Rinku
Singh (26) produced
blistering fireworks as KKR
posted 272, the second-highest
score in the history of the
competition.
What also hurt DC was
Pant unable to take reviews
on caught-behind appeals
against Narine and KKR
skipper Shreyas Iyer, with re-
plays showing they would
have been out. From a DC per-
spective, their non-review of
Narine on 24 proved to be
very costly.
"Our bowlers were all over
the place. I think it was quite
loud here. At the same time,
couldn't see the timer on the
screen. There was some prob-
lem on the screen. But there
are some things you can con-
trol, some things you can't,"
said Pant after the match end-
ed.
Moreover, DC used only
one over of spin bowling in
the form of Axar Patel, which
raised eyebrows. "See the
thought process was that we
didn't want to use spinners
but our fast bowlers were go-
ing through the motions. I
think it is time for reflections
as an individual,”added Pant.
Kolkata Knight Riders co-
owner Juhi Chawla recently
revealed that she doesn't like
watching Indian Premier
League matches with Shah
Rukh Khan as he gets frus-
trated and angry at her when-
ever their team doesn't do
well.
Juhi, her husband Jay
Mehta and their longtime
friend Shah Rukh own KKR,
which is one of the most high-
profile franchises in the IPL
since the very beginning.
chise CEO Venky Mysore, are
often seen at cricket stadiums
cheering for KKR during the
IPL season very rarely are
they seen together in the
stands. And Juhi explained
why it is a bad idea to watch
KKR's matches with SRK
from the stands.
"IPL is always exciting. We
all are in front of our televi-
sion sets. When our team
plays, it is interesting to
watch them and we all are
highly tense," Juhi Chawla
said in Mumbai.
the most and dedicated his
stunning 54-run knock to the
former Mumbai opener.
"He has helped me in every-
thing, the way I think about
the game, the way I work to-
wards the game, the things I
eat, the way I train, he is basi-
cally my guru and
everything. That's my rela-
tionship with him," Raghu-
vanshi said in his post-match
press conference.
Over the last few years, Na-
yar has established himself
as a prominent coach in do-
past few weeks, the past few years with my coach
Abhishek Nayar...the way he has made me practice I didn't really
have to think too much when I went out to bat
– Angkrish Raghuvanshi, KKR batter
mestic and franchise circuits, me practice I didn't really have
and most notably, played a to think too much when I went
key role even in the resur- out to bat.
gence of seasoned campaign- "I just batted with my in-
ers like Dinesh Karthik. stincts and I just trusted that.
"It was pretty simple, the What I did during practice was
way I have been practicing the enough, the way he has made
past few weeks, the past few me practice.. he has made me
years with my coach Abhishek face tough circumstances dur-
Nayar...the way he has made ing practice," he said.

THE FORMER ENGLISH CRICKETER'S ENDORSEMENT, MAYANK YADAV'S SMOOTH RUN-UP AND GENUINE PACE DESERVE DIRECT ENTRY

England great Broad backs pace sensation for big league transition PTI / MUMBAI
Indian pace sensation
Mayank Yadav does not need
to go through the domestic
grind and can be fast-tracked
into international cricket
which will toughen up his
body for the inevitable injury
breakdowns, feels England
fast bowling great Stuart
Broad.
Broad, who retired from all
formats last year with 604
Test wickets, feels that like
him, Yadav too can learn at
the highest level by starting
young but must also brace
himself for the ups and
downs.
"I don't think he needs to
come through a grind of play-
ing (domestic) cricket, his
body will naturally harden up
with the quality of cricket he
is going to play," Broad, a
member of the Star Sports In-
credible Star Cast, told PTI in
an exclusive interaction at
the channel's studio here.
"He has got a really smooth
run up, he has got a brace
front-leg delivery (when the
bowler's leg acts as a brake to
help transfer the run up speed
into action), he knows the line
and length, he is trying to
bowl and has genuine pace,"
he said.
"The best learning place for
any young bowler is as high a
standard as you could possi-
bly play. I did a lot of my
learning at international
cricket, played at a young age,
he is learning on the job in the
IPL, playing against the best -
that is just the best place to
learn.
Broad said expediting the
I don't think he needs
to come through a
grind of playing (domestic)
cricket, his body will naturally
harden up with the quality of
cricket he is going to play
– Stuart Broad, on Mayank
Yadav the new pace sensation
Mayank Yadav is the first
player in the history of IPL
to bag two Player of the
Match awards in his first
two matches
21-year-old to top-flight
cricket would only work in
his favour, since India have
got something special in him.
"I would be very tempted to
get him in and around the In-
dian setup, just not necessari-
ly (he) has to play, just to learn
from the quality of players
that they have because India
have got something special on
their hands if they manage
him well," he said.
Broad, however, said Yadav
will have to prepare himself
for the tough challenges that
every player faces.
"Yes, he is going to pick up
injuries, he is going to have
time out of the game because
of the genuine pace that he
bowls, but he looks in fantas-
tic rhythm. Two Player of the
Match (awards) in his first
two IPL games is almost un-
heard of as a fast bowler," he
said.
"I expect him to play all
three formats. I am sure he
swings the red ball just judg-
ing by his seam position with
the white, but we also need to
manage expectations around
him. He is not going to get a
Player of the Match every sin-
gle game," Broad added.
As a former teammate of
England captain Jos Buttler,
Broad feels spending time at
the crease and not taking ex-
tra pressure could help the
Rajasthan Royals' batter
come out of the slump.
Having ended the last IPL
with three ducks in a row,
Buttler has not been able to
fire yet in this season.
"He will be a bit frustrated
that he has not converted his
starts into big scores, but it is
such a long tournament,
there is plenty of time for him
to strike. Ultimately, the
biggest positive is that the
team are three from three (in
terms of wins)," Broad said.
"When you are playing in a
winning team, that always
gives you a boost. I have got no
concerns as a former team-
mate of his, he is in a good
place, he is happy, loves play-
ing for Rajasthan Royals,
(and) he is just waiting to get
through that powerplay," he
said. He said the only way
Mumbai Indians can stop
what is happening inside the
stadiums - incessant jeering
of skipper Pandya by fans - is
by winning matches.
"As a player it doesn't both-
er you at all, to be honest. It's
part and parcel of interna-
tional and top-flight sport,"
Broad said. "You don't neces-
sarily get that sort of environ-
ment and hostile feeling on
your home ground. But I don't
think the atmosphere can af-
fect you as a proven per-
former. You still need to go out
and deliver your skill."

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GAMES MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
SA footballer and Olympian Luke Fleurs killed in hijacking
Johannesburg: South African footballer and Olympian Luke Fleurs has
been killed in a hijacking in Johannesburg, his Kaizer Chiefs club said
on Thursday. The 24-year-old defender was shot while waiting to be
attended to at a petrol station in Johannesburg, according to police.
"Luke Fleurs tragically lost his life last night during a hijacking
incident in Johannesburg,” Kaizer Chiefs said in a statement.

SPORTS CAFE
Five Indian shuttlers in quarterfinals
Astana: Young shuttler Anmol Kharb continued to impress as
she progressed to the women's singles quarterfinals along with
Premier League set to go down the wire
Arsenal back on top, Manchester City routs Aston Villa to stay close ENGLISH PREMIER MESSI OUT FOR
four other Indians at the Kazakhstan International Challenge AP / MANCHESTER LEAGUE STANDINGS INTER MIAMI
here on Thursday. Besides Anmol, in-form Devika Sihag, former Teams P W D L Pts
national champion Anupama Upadhaya, seventh seed Tanya The three-way race for the Arsenal 30 21 5 4 68 Fort Lauderdale (US): Lionel
Hemanth and Isharani Baruah also entered the last 8 in women's Premier League title looks Liverpool 29 20 7 2 67 Messi was not suited up for
singles. Reigning senior national champion Anmol, who played a likely to go down to the wire Man City 30 20 7 3 67 Inter Miami's game against
pivotal role in Indian women's team winning an unprecedented after wins for Arsenal and Aston Villa 31 18 5 8 59 Mexico's Monterrey in the
gold at the Badminton Asia Team Championships in February, Manchester City kept the Spurs 30 17 6 7 57 CONCACAF Champions Cup
beat UAE's Nurani Ratu Azzahra 21-11 21-7 in the second round. pressure on Liverpool. quarterfinal first leg. Messi, who
Man U 29 15 3 11 48
The 17-year-old Anmol will face Japan's Sorano Yoshikawa next. Arsenal moved back to the is dealing with a right hamstring
top of the table by beating Lu- WHU 31 12 9 10 45 injury, has not played for Miami
India records highest in doping cases ton 2-0 on Wednesday, while NCU 30 13 5 12 44 since March 13, when he left a
New Delhi: India registered the highest percentage of failed City routed Aston Villa 4-1 to BAHA 30 11 10 9 43 3-1 win over Nashville just a
dope tests among countries which tested more than 2000 go level on points with sec- Wolves 31 12 6 12 42 few minutes into the 2nd half.
samples with South Africa being second in the 2022 Testing ond-place Liverpool.
Figures Report released by the World Anti-Doping Agency. India Just one point separates treble of trophies which also slip.
tested 3865 samples (urine, and blood combined) during the the top three teams in what is included the Champions That never looked likely af-
recorded period, of which 125 returned adverse analytical shaping up to be the most League and FA Cup. ter Martin Odegaard opened
findings. This amounts to 3.2 per cent of the samples, the WADA compelling title fight in Arteta's players have al- the scoring in the 24th minute
said in its report released late on Wednesday. In terms of recent history. ready improved head-to-head and an own goal from Daiki
number of samples tested, India was 11th on the list but the Liverpool had taken advan- against City - winning and Hashioka in the 44th made it
number of doping violations were higher than major sporting tage of its two rivals drawing drawing against the defend- 2-0 by halftime.
nations like Russia (85), USA (84), Italy (73) and France (72). 0-0 on Sunday and moved two Arsenal's Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal at the Emirates Stadium, ing champion. But it remains A fuss-free three points
South Africa returned the next highest percentage of adverse points clear at the top. London –AFP to be seen how they handle without Bukayo Saka and
findings -- 2.9 per cent from 2033 tested samples. By the end of Wednesday's the pressure with just eight with Declan Rice named as a
games, Jurgen Klopp's team on both. ings. The Londoners led the league games to go. substitute was just the type of
CABI celebrates spirit of inclusion was playing catch-up to Arse- Liverpool hosts last-place The question for Arsenal is table for 248 days before even- While Arsenal was expect- performance that suggests
New Delhi: The Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) nal again and was ahead of Sheffield United on Thursday whether it can go the distance tually being overtaken by a ed to beat relegation-threat- Arteta's team is better pre-
celebrated the spirit of inclusion and empowerment of the City only on goal difference - with the margins getting after falling away so badly at City team that won its third ti- ened Luton at home, there pared to complete the job this
specially-abled persons with Samarthanam Trust. Ibiza Inclusion even if it has a game in hand tighter at the top of the stand- the end of last season. tle in a row and completed a was always the potential for a time around.
CEO Emma Torres, who is known for her roles as an educational
psychologist, and teacher for children and teenagers with special
needs, generously contributed a cheque of 1500 Euros towards
the cause during a meet and greet event held here in New Delhi.
Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar, Founder Trustee of Samarthanam, Salvi anchors Accountant Gen to win Worli Sports Club record
graced the occasion with his esteemed presence, underscoring
the significance of the cause. Shailendra Yadav, the general
secretary of CABI, Score Foundation CEO George Abraham and
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI

An impressive batting per-

Union Bank manager Yogesh Taneja were the other dignitaries formance by opening bats-
present at the occasion. man Swapnil Salvi, who
smashed a 31-ball 69 runs
PVF invites India for tournament (6x4s,5x6s) was the highlight
Karachi: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) has extended of Accountant General
an invitation to India to send its team for the Asian Challenge Sports Club’s comfortable 30-
Volleyball League, to be held in Islamabad next run victory against Greater
month.Chaudhary Yaqoob who heads the PVF said that they had Mumbai Police Sports Club
also sent invitations to the Indian volleyball federation for the in a first round match of the
event in which 10-12 teams are expected to participate. "We Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar T20
won the bid to host the Asian challenge volleyball championship Cup Inter-Office Cricket
after much effort and we would like to see all the top teams in Tournament 2024, being or-
the continent competing in the event from 11-17 May," he said. ganized by Rashtriya Chemi-
Iran, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, cals & Fertilizers (RCF) under
Kyrgyzstan have confirmed their entries while other the auspices of the Mumbai
confirmations are awaited. Yaqoob said that the training camp Cricket Association (MCA)
for the Pakistan players is already underway in Islamabad. and played at the RCF Colony
ground in Chembur on
NZ's Mair ruled out of ODI series Thursday.
Hamilton: New Zealand women cricket team bowler Rosemary Electing to bowl, Mumbai
Mair has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series Police struggled to contain
against England due to a back injury. "Mair felt pain in her back the rival batters as Account-
while training in Wellington late last week and was ant General scored 193 for 4
subsequently ruled out of the first ODI against England at the wickets from their 20 overs.
Cello Basin Reserve on Monday," the New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Besides Salvi’s rapid knock
statement read. "The 25-year-old fast bowler travelled with the his opening partner Varun
team to Hamilton but was unable to complete training at Lavande contributed with a
Seddon Park on Wednesday, so a decision was made for her to 34-ball 47 runs (6x4s, 1x6) and
return home to begin a period of rehabilitation," it added. the two put together a solid
127-run first wicket partner-
ship. Later, Bravish Shetty
scored an unbeaten 30 runs
and Larson D’Costa chipped
in with 21 runs to boost the to-
tal. Aaryaraj Nikam took 2
wickets for 22 runs.
Later, Accountant General
bowled and fielded well to re-
strict Greater Mumbai Police
to 163 for 7 wickets from their
20 overs. Rohit Pol 47 runs,
Suraj Shinde 41 runs and
Tanish Meher 27 runs tried to
put up a fight. The Account-
ant General bowlers Imtiaz
Ahmed 2 for 22 and Jeff
Pereira 2 for 39 were the suc-
cessful wicket-takers.
Earlier, Repro India SC de-
feated Viva Supermarket SC
won by 7 wickets.
Brief scores
Accountant General Sports Club
193-4 (Swapnil Salvi 69, Varun
Lavande 47, Bravish Shetty 30*,
Larson D’Costa 21; Aaryaraj
Nikam 2/22) beat Greater
Mumbai Police Sports Club 163
for 7, 20 overs (Rohit Pol 47,
Suraj Shinde 41, Tanish Meher
27; Imtiaz Ahmed 2/22, Jeff
Pereira 2/39). Result: AG (LR)
Sports Club won by 30 runs.
Viva Supermarket SC 166 all out,
20 overs (Jigar Rana 52, Karan
More 41Mohammed Moin Khan
4/24, Sumeir Zaveri 2/26) lost
six-wicket win
FPJ NEWS SERVICE / MUMBAI and Sagar Gupta was the
star performer with an
Worli Sports Club charged unbeaten 44 runs to en-
to a six-wicket victory sure their win.
against Muslim United Brief scores
Sports Club in a Group-F Group-E: Superstar
match of the 3rd MCA Un- Sports Club 154-7 (J Tolia
der-19 Cricket Tourna- 45; J Bakshi 3/25) bt
ment organised by Young Maharashtra
Bhama Cricket
D.Y. CC 109 all out (J
Club in associa- Bakshi 30;
tion with Mum- Patil SA pull Nishad Sawant
bai Cricket out a close 3-20). Result:
Club under the nine-runs win over Superstar SC
aegis of the Wellington Cricket won by 45 runs.
Mumbai Cricket Group-F: Mus-
Association and Club lim United SC
played at the Worli 118-9 (Y Saudhagar
SC ground on Thurs- 53; N Yadav 3/23) lost
day. Worli Sports Club 120-4 (S
Sent in to bat, Muslim Gupta 44*). Result: Worli
United managed to score Sports Club won by 6
118 for 9 wickets in 32 wickets.
overs. Yaseen Saudhagar Group-H: D.Y. Patil SA
Repro India SC 172 for 3, 18.1 top-scored with 53 runs 155-9 (A Khundu 63; P Mal-
overs (Sumeir Zaveri 76, Ruturaj while Worli SC bowler vankar 3/33) bt
Sane 35*, Kunal Kothavade 26, Narendra Yadav took 3 for Wellington Cricket Club
Harsh Salunkhe 23; Rahul 23 runs. 146 (S Harale 53). Result:
Chaudhary 2/36). Result: Repro In reply, Worli SC bat- D.Y. Patil SA won by 9
India SC won by 7 wickets. ters batted confidently runs.
 J O U R N A L

The healing powers of tamarind

In Asian countries, tamarind tea emerges as a traditional
remedy for individuals grappling with malaria, showcasing its
potential in combating this infectious disease.
INFO
J O U R N A L
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024
Aloe vera
Vastu Tips 5 Milk and
6
Aloe vera helps in
Amritha K sandalwood powder
hydrating the skin.

Dos and don’t of having Milk contains agents that

brighten the skin and sandalwood
Also, it protects
the skin from the
harmful effects of

P
contains anti-bacterial properties that

a compound wall
igmentation, or in the UV rays of the
other words hyperpig- help in protecting your skin. sun.
mentation, is a skin- Ingredients: 2 tbsp sandalwood powder, Ingredients: 2
related issue, where dark 4 tbsp milk (raw). tbsp aloe vera gel,
patches start appearing How to do: Take 2 tbsp of sandalwood ½ tbsp honey.
on your skin, therefore powder and 4 tbsp of raw milk. Now,
JYOTI S leading to an uneven skin How to do:
mix it together to form a thick paste. In a bowl, mix
tone. These can be caused Apply on your skin. Massage it together aloe vera
by several reasons like onto your skin slowly for 15-20

M
gel and honey. Let
ost people prefer environmental pollution, minutes and wash it off the mixture stay for 10
building their dream UV rays, hormonal issues or with cold water. minutes. After 10 minutes,
dwellings by strictly any other underlying health
you can start applying the
adhering to the rules of the issues. Skin pigmentation
mixture on the affected areas. Let
vastu shastra. However, is a major worry of most
it stay for 20 minutes and wash it
many complain that they do of the women out there. It
not enjoy good fortune or can at times even question off in lukewarm water.

experience hurdles in life
and lack of peace, despite
building their houses as
per the vastu rules. Vastu
experts say that in some
circumstances it might be
certain objects in the house
that exude negative energy.
Skin pigmentation
our self-esteem, confidence
and personality. Most
of us try to hide these
skin pigmentation issues
with various makeup
products available in the
Make market. Some of them are
sure to keep the concealers, foundation, BB

How can you treat it at home?

Walk around the
house to see whether
wooden planks, bricks,
tile pieces or sand bags
are kept closer to the walls. As per the vastu rules,
It is not right to place the
remaining materials from
the construction closer to the
walls of the house.
Growing thorny plants
except the roses could fill
the house with negative
energy. Though cacti could be around your compound
grown during the time of the
construction to ward off evil
eyes, it should be removed
when you move into the
house.
You may experience
problems if the locks or
latches of doors, windows or
safes do not work properly.
Take a stroll around
your home to inspect if any
construction materials like
wooden planks, bricks, tiles,
or sandbags are stored close to clean. These areas hold
the walls. Placing such items
near the walls is considered
inauspicious according to
Vastu principles.
north east and the
south west sides of the Do not store damaged
house always clean. The or broken objects in the
very center of the house is house. It is better to throw
called the brahmasthanam. away broken objects no
matter how expensive they
the brahmasthanam are. Similarly, replace a
should be left broken tap from which
vacant. water leaks as droplets.
Adequate lighting
While greenery is around the compound
often encouraged, avoid wall is essential. Dark or
growing thorny plants poorly lit areas can attract
negative energies. Install
wall as they could lights strategically to
bring negative energy. illuminate all corners of the
Exceptions like roses perimeter.
are permissible, but be Conduct regular
cautious with plants like maintenance of the
cacti; they might be used compound wall to
during construction prevent cracks, leaks, or
to ward off evil eyes other structural issues.
but should be removed Neglecting maintenance can
before moving in. lead to the accumulation of
Keep the northeast negative energy over time.
and southwest sides of Keep the area around
your house consistently the compound wall free
from clutter and debris.
significant importance Clutter obstructs the flow
in Vastu, as they of positive energy and
influence various can create disturbances
aspects of life. in the environment.
cream and other products
that help to even the skin
tone. While there are an
umpteen number of makeup
products available in the
market, this skin-related 2 Turmeric and gram flour 3 Onion
issue can be easily treated pack Onion contains several vitamins
at home using some natural Gram flour will remove the and has antioxidants that help in
ingredients that are easily dead skin cells and impurities treating pigmentation.
available. So, let us have a from your skin. Turmeric helps Ingredient: 1 small onion.
look at some of the home
in evening your skin tone and How to do: Cut a small onion into
remedies for treating removing dark patches. half. Rub a slice of the onion
hyperpigmentation.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons of on the affected areas of your
Bengal gram flour, A pinch of skin. Wait for 10 minutes. After 10
turmeric, 1 tablespoon of minutes, wash it off in lukewarm 7 Lemon and honey
1 Apple cider rose water, 1 tablespoon water. You can repeat this 2-3 times
Vinegar Apple cider The antioxidants in lemon
of milk. in a week. and honey help in removing
vinegar contains astringent
properties that help in restoring the
How to do: Mix all 4 Potato juice pigmentation and in brightening
the above-mentioned Potato has antioxidants that help the skin. Its natural skin-whitening
skin tone. ingredients. Apply in making the skin look brighter. It properties will give you a fair and
Ingredients: 1 tbsp apple cider this pack on the also helps in removing the dead cells, glowing skin.
vinegar, 2 tbsp water. cleansed areas and since it has mild bleaching agents. Ingredients: 1 tablespoon of gram
How to do: Mix together apple leave it on for about
cider vinegar and water. Apply 20 minutes. Once the
Ingredient: 1 potato. flour, 1 spoon of honey, 2 spoons of
How to do: Cut a potato into small lemon, A pinch of turmeric powder.
the solution to the affected area. pack is dry, moisten
Leave it on for 5 minutes. your skin with a few
pieces. Grate the potato and squeeze How to do: Mix all the ingredients
After 5 minutes, to take out the juice. Dip a cotton pad in a bowl and apply it on the
drops of water. Then, affected area. Leave it on for 20
rinse it off with into it and apply on your skin. Leave it
gently remove the pack minutes and then wash it off in
lukewarm on for 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with
by scrubbing first in the lukewarm water. Repeat this twice
water. normal water. Apply moisturizer after
clockwise and then in the in a week for faster and better
washing it off, since there are chances
anticlockwise direction. results.
that your skin might get dry.

Myths related to Denise Baptiste

High calorie
autism spectrum disorder indian foods to avoid
Y
ou might have come across a
variety of people telling you
that Indian food is the best
cuisine in the world. This is simply Falooda
themselves for themselves, and This is yet again

A
utism or autism
spectrum disorder
can be described as
a complex neurodevelopmental
disorder taking a toll on millions
of Indians. It is one of the
most common developmental
disabilities wherein one begins to
show symptoms usually at the age
of 9 months. However, via timely
screening and diagnostic tools, a
large number of children can be
diagnosed by the age of three. It
is the need of the hour to dispel
myths surrounding autism and
improve one’s quality of life.
Debunking myths
associated with autism
Myth #1: Autism is only seen in
children
Fact: It is a known fact that
Autism is a lifelong developmental
disorder, though signs and
symptoms are witnessed during
childhood, autistic traits are also
seen in adulthood. Shockingly,
many adults tend to get diagnosed
with this disorder even later in
life.
Myth #2: Autistic children are
violent by nature
Fact: Children with autism
are violent by nature is a
misconception. While
some children may
find it difficult
to express
they don’t create history too. because Indian food is rich in spices,
nutrients and proteins. But along another popular Indian
cause any Myth #4: People with sweet which is enjoyed by
harm. A with this Indian food is also rich
autism are intellectually all age groups of people.
majority in fats which is not good for
weak and unable to But if you are on a weight
of children one’s health. When foods are
communicate efficiently loss program, experts
high in fats, it gets stored in
with autism Fact: Individuals with the body and thus becomes advise you not to enjoy it.
struggle to Autism Spectrum Disorder Since, one cup of falooda
cope and difficult for one to burn.
(ASD) may display intellectual There are some Indian has around 300 kcl in it.
manage their disabilities or speech Tandoori chicken
emotions but foods which contain high
difficulties, but not amounts of calories in Go to any Indian
Dr Deepak Ugra they are not everyone. Ones hotel where they serve
at all violent it. Therefore, experts
with autism can advise not to go beyond non vegetarian food and
Department of or a threat
Paediatrics, communicate one serving especially the first thing you will
Lilavati Hospital, to others. properly see is the masala coated
Mumbai Such when it comes to these
without any particular types of foods. tandoori chicken. It does
children fear. But, look appetising, but 340
Foods which are high
should be treated with love, the screen is Samosa Bajjis kcl on one serving of
in calories need to be
respect, and empathy. causing a lot consumed only in small
On every street you would
For an evening snack, an tandoori does not make
Myth #3: Those with of harm to find this yummy fried snack.
Indian would always opt for you feel good, right?
quantities and early This is one of the Indian foods
autism are unable to live children, so the traditional onion bajjis Pav bhajji
during the day so that high in calories which you
independently or become avoid doing or a potato bajji. This Indian Pav Bhaji is one of the
you are able to burn the should avoid. The calories
successful in life so. evening snack contains a most loved street foods
fat which gets stored in
Fact: Autism affects people your body. Foods which
content in a samosa is 320 kcl.
high amount of calories in it, you would find on any
in different ways. While some Chicken korma curry therefore it is best to avoid Indian street. This Indian
contain high amounts of The chicken korma
may require additional carbohydrates and calories consuming it as much as food is high in calories
support, others can curry has an advantage possible. and should be consumed
in it will affect your heart and a disadvantage too. It
be independent, and can lead to obesity when Halwa maximum once in a week
follow their is nutritious but contains a if you are a foodie. Pav
consumed on a regular basis. If you love halwa, you need
passion, high amount of calories. One bhaji consists of 620 kcl
It becomes quite difficult for the to know the true side of this
and become serving of chicken korma
foodies since they love to eat yummy sweet treat. A piece of per plate
successful in curry has around 800 to 870 kcl
anything which is laid out on in it.
halwa consists of 570 kcl! After Butter chicken
their respective
the plate. Therefore, if you this we are sure you will go The thick butter
careers. With are a foodie and love Indian
Rice pulav easy on your indulgence. which is decorated on this
the right The spices which are used
foods then you need to go Chhole batura Indian dish which is high
support and in rice pulav will make your in calories is not good for
easy and take only small bites A favourite North Indian
resources, tummy growl with hunger. you to indulge in every
to fill your hungry tummy. dish which is high in calories
people with However, you should know week. Once in a month is
Take a look at some of the may taste good but it is not
autism can that a serving of rice pulav is fine, especially for those
Indian food which are high good for your health if made
grow, carve a not good for those who are on who are on a weight loss
in calories that you should into a habit. One serving of this
niche a weight loss program since it program.
avoid: Indian dish consists of 450 kcl.
contains 449 kcl in it.

Health benefits of black cardamom

Boosts immunity
Get fair skin As it is antiseptic
Amrisha Sharma Black cardamom and antibacterial,
also has beauty benefits. black cardamom
Its essential oil can help provides protection

C
ardamom is the
‘Queen of Spices’.
Commonly known as
elaichi in Hindi, cardamom
is one of the spices that is
very aromatic and used
to add flavour and taste to
several dishes. There are
two coloured cardamoms
available in the market;
green and black cardamom.
Apart from flavouring and
adding a taste, cardamom is
also used for its numerous
health benefits.
Before going to the
health benefits, let’s first
know what black cardamoms
are. Black cardamoms are
small black spices that have
a very strong aromatic smell
and health benefits. Also
known as hill cardamoms,
it is very popularly used
in cooking for its unique
taste and strong flavour.
The oil extracted from
black cardamom seeds is
used for many health and
beauty benefits. There are
numerous health benefits
of having black cardamoms
in your ingredients list. For Gastro-intestinal health Skin allergy remove dark blemishes from the against infections,
example, it is very heart Black cardamoms help have a Black face, promote an even skin tone, and boosts the
healthy. Black cardamoms healthy gastro-intestinal health by cardamom has and achieve a fair complexion. immune system.
control cardiac rhythm stimulating the gastric and intestinal antibacterial
glands. It increases the secretion of properties and is
Additionally, the natural Prevent heat stroke
which balances the blood compounds in black cardamom In some
pressure, and reduces the juices in the stomach which brings an antiseptic which can rejuvenate skin cells,
down the formation of stomach acids. parts, you will
chances of blood clot. If you treats skin allergies, giving a youthful glow and have to face heat
talk about beauty benefits, This prevents gastric ulcers and other soothes irritation, reducing the appearance stroke. To prevent
black cardamom oil is digestive problems. and promotes healing. of fine lines and this, have black
known for making the Healthy heart Using black cardamom- wrinkles. cardamoms, which
hair shiny, bouncy Treats asthma Black infused skincare can aid in regulating
Black cardamom cardamoms products can provide
and thick. This
benefits the health of prevent heart
Scalp infections body temperature and
is because black long-lasting relief from Its antibacterial maintaining hydration
cardamoms provide patients who suffer from diseases. It various skin conditions. levels. Consuming black
properties
nourishment and respiratory problems like controls cardiac Anesthetic cardamoms during hot
prevent the scalp
strength to the asthma, whooping cough, rhythm which The black cardamom from infections,
Oral care Prevents cancer weather can also help in
hair follicles which lung congestion, bronchitis balances the
Black cardamom essential oil is often alleviate itching, replenishing electrolytes
strengthens them etc. Chewing this spice blood pressure, Do you suffer from oral used to get instant relief
has anti-carcinogenic and reduce the lost through sweat, keeping
from the roots and increases air passage and reduces the health problems like mouth from headache. It is
properties, raises the risk of irritation you cool and energized.
through the lungs. chances of blood odour, bleeding gums, anesthetic and sedative
prevents hair fall.
clot. tooth decay etc? Chew on amount of glutathione (an or inflammation. Hair care
Black cardamom fights antioxidant) in the body, which fights stress, Regular application Black cardamoms have
skin allergies and also some black cardamom. fatigue and nausea.
Healthy oils are known for and prevents cancer cells of black cardamom anti-oxidative properties
reduces fine lines of ageing.
benefiting oral health. from developing within. Improves blood extract or oil can which provide nourishment
Moreover, the essential Natural detox circulation create a protective to the scalp and hair
oil is used in face packs to Urinary health It has Vitamin C, an barrier on the follicles, promoting healthy
Black cardamom Black cardamoms are
de-tan and get a glowing the natural detox which essential antioxidant scalp, shielding hair growth and preventing
skin naturally. Here benefits health as it is a damage. Also controls
helps flush out toxins, free which improves blood it from harmful
are the best health natural diuretic which dandruff, reducing and
radicals and dangerous circulation throughout microbes and
benefits of black prevents dehydration, improving overall hair
fluids in the body which the body and improves environmental
cardamoms which clears the urinary tract health.
may be harmful. skin complexion as well. pollutants.
makes it popular. and keeps the renal system
Take a look... healthy. Disclaimer: The Free Press Journal bears no responsibility for the content that appears on this page.
 Jennifer ctor Jennifer Garner is set to make the audience laugh with Mrs. Claus, a
Garner all
set to produce
A holiday comedy in which she is set to star and produce, reported a news
agency. Jennifer is associating with OTT platform after working on popular
family films like Family Leave and Yes Day as well as the science
holiday fiction picture The Adam Project, which starred Ryan Reynolds and was one
of the streamer’s highest-grossing films to date in terms of viewership. Jennifer
comedy Mrs. Garner is back in business with the streamer after signing on to star in its holiday
Claus comedy, Mrs. Claus. —ANI
MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

“I met a 70-year-old
uncle and he tapped
my face with love. I Father-son duo
delights fans
haven’t seen such an ex-
citement amongst
teenagers and it is com-
mendable. I love to do
comedies and I have
been trained to do Director David Dhawan and his son Varun join
that. A lot of
preparation
forces for a Dhamakedaar entertainer
had gone CJ DESK October 2, 2025, this ven-
A still from Madgaon Express through to do ture is poised to be a

B
this role. ollywood celebration of fami-
Director along with Since I had
to differen-
heartthrob
Varun
ly, love, and laugh-
ter.
the cast celebrate the tiate be-
tween my
Dhawan
and ace direc-
Mark your cal-
endars as Varun
success of their film own come-
dies, it was
tor David Dhawan
are set to ignite
Dhawan and
David Dhawan
a fun chal- the silver screen gear up to unleash
ROHIT BHATNAGAR lenge. It be- with an electrifying their dual prowess,
comes very collaboration that Producer Ramesh Taurani promising a roller-

M
adgaon Express that released on February 22, important to promises to deliver coaster ride of emo-
2024 is going steady at the box office besides the understand an unforgettable entertaining tions and laughter.
critical acclaim it had received. Actor turned this. The script experience. The yet-to-be- Having said that it is worth
filmmaker Kunal Kemmu is riding on the suc- had it all that unveiled project, is be- mentioning here that it will
cess of his directorial debut at the moment. He helped me in ing presented by fa- mark Varun and David’s
along with Avishash Tiwary and Divyenndu chat with developing a mous music record la- fourth project together after
The Free Press Journal exclusively, where they dis- new rhythm bel and film produc- Main Tera
cussed about the unpredictable love pouring for the film. for my char- tion, a name synony- Hero, Jud-
acter than mous with cinematic waa 2 &
the rest I had excellence, and is pro- Coolie

“L ife is pretty much the same after

the release but the kind of love
that has been coming my way is
played.”

— DIVYENNDU
duced by the
Ramesh
Taurani.
No 1.

amazing. I am glad that the at- Actor Sched-

tempt and the effort found a con- uled for
nect with the audiences. I never nation-
hoped for this though but wide
the way it happened in
such a short duration
is beyond my imagi-
“A s an actor, I followed the
text which I had to. I
have never done a comedy be-
re-
lease
on
nation. I was sur- fore. It all started from the
prised to see the script. When I heard, I could
people in their late imagined myself to be a part
50s are enjoying the of it. My challenge was if
film. I thought my pointed specifically was to
target audience was youth but the fact play a straight-jacketed
is different age groups are resonating character out of all three. To
with it. I am an accidental writer-di- be on the sets with the ener-
rector, I never kind of trained for it so gies of both the actors people
my case has both plus and a minus. I saw on-screen was challeng-
was never commissioned to write ing. With the lines coming
this or have deadlines. I was just from both of them, I felt, I also
passionate about it. It was a learn- wanted a few lines. I wanted to
ing curve for me.” find my own creative space
“As much as I am trying to stay amongst them. I didn’t have to
away from tracking numbers, I fight for it though since it was
want to know somewhere. I am all in the script. My character
just happy that everyone is talk- was very well etched out. Kunal
ing about the film with genuine knew the best so I just listened
love. I am just thankful.” to him and did my best.”

—KUNAL KEMMU — AVINASH TIWARY

Director Actor

PICS: VARINDER CHAWLA

SNEAK
CAUGHT ON CAM Fashion and celebrity photographer Sasha Jairam, who
turned a year older on Wednesday, hosted a cow-boy
themed birthday party that was attended by her friends
from the entertainment industry
Rhea

PEEK
Shibani Kusha Chakraborty
Dandekar Kapila and Anusha
Dandekar

F
ilmmaker
Sanjay Leela
Bhansali’s
much-antici-
pated web series,
Heeramandi:

S
ingh Is Bling fame The Diamond
Amy Jackson re- Bazaar, is
cently delighted now out
her fans and fol- with its sec-
lowers with a bunch ond song titled
of pictures from her East- Tilasmi Bahein. Com-
er celebrations with her posed by the director-cre-
fiance Ed Westwick and ator himself, the song fea-
her son Andreas. Amy tures Sonakshi Sinha in her
took to her Instagram on most ethereal avatar yet.
Wednesday to share love- The song, composed by the
ly pictures from her East- maestro Bhansali himself
er celebrations. and sung by the enchanting
In one picture, Ed is Sharmistha Chatterjee,
seen enjoying dessert, promises to be a visual and
while in another, An- auditory treat for fans. In
dreas is munching on the mesmerizing music
bread. Amy is captured video, Sinha’s portrayal
relishing strawberries in of the courtesan Fa-
another picture. Her East- reedan is nothing short
er-themed post also in- of captivating. Dressed
cludes snapshots of their in a resplendent beige se-
family’s fun moments. One quin sari, Sinha exudes
image shows Amy and An- allure and charisma as
dreas seated on a tree she mesmerizes viewers
branch, while another clip with her intoxicating
features Andreas playfully dance, filmed in one con-
wearing a Spiderman mask. tinuous take.

T
aapsee Pannu married her longtime
boyfriend and Badminton player Mathias
Boe in Udaipur later last month. A post
from Taapsee’s bridal entry went crazy vi-
ral. It features the actress dancing with all
her heart. Now, a new post from the actress’
wedding festivities has surfaced online. The
post appears to be from
Taapsee and Mathias Boe’s Elnaaz
sangeet ceremony and it Norouzi
features the couple ruling
the dance floor as they
sway to the rhythm of a ro-
mantic track. Needless to
say, this post is viral too.
According to sources, the
couple had a mehendi and Birthday
a sangeet ceremony before
the wedding. The pre-wed-
girl Sasha
ding celebrations and wed- Jairam
ding took place between Karishma
March 21 and 24. The cou-
ple are yet to make an offi- Tanna
cial announcement.
PICS: INSTAGRAM
 Fingers
A still from Monkey Man

MUMBAI | FRIDAY | APRIL 5, 2024

crossed
Actor Sikandar Kher
heads to US for
premiere of
Hollywood debut
Monkey Man

CJ DESK

S
A still from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan ikandar Kher is all set for the pre-
miere of his first Hollywood film,

TRIMMING
Monkey Man.
The highly anticipated movie is
scheduled for a premiere at the Grau-
man’s Chinese Theatre followed by its release
in the US on 5 April.
The action-thriller follows the journey of a

TROUBLE
young man portrayed by Dev Patel, who em-
barks on a mission to seek justice for his moth-
er’s death, caused by corrupt leaders.
However, his quest for vengeance takes an un-
expected turn as he becomes a champion for
the oppressed and powerless, trans-
forming into the titular Mon-
CBFC asks makers of Bade Miyan key Man. Alongside Sikandar
Kher, the film features Dev
Chote Miyan to blur footage of Patel, Sharlto Copley,
Sobhita Dhulipala,
14 seconds, modify liquor Makarand Deshpande, Ash-
consumption scene wini Kalsekar, and others.
Notably, Dev Patel not
CJ DESK only stars in the film but
also makes his directo-

A
kshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff ’s rial debut and serves
much-awaited film Bade Miyan Chote as a producer.
Miyan is all set to release on Eid. The Expressing his ex-
film’s trailer as well as its songs have citement for the pre-
created quite a buzz on the internet. miere, Sikandar
Directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the action- Kher shared, “Ex-
thriller has reportedly been granted U/A cer- cited to reunite
tificate by the Central Board of Film Certifi- with the entire
cation (CBFC). cast and crew
The Censor Board has asked the makers of and see the film
Bade Miyan Chote Miyan to make certain with everyone
modifications in the film. Reportedly, they are together at the
directed to chop a scene appearing before the premiere. It
film’s interval by 19 seconds. Besides this, 14 was a long one
seconds of footage will be blurred in three dif- for us. We got a
ferent scenes in the film. phenomenal re-
The CBFC directed the makers to replace the sponse at SXSW
name of a brand in one of the scenes. Another last month
scene featuring an act of liquor consumption which was
will carry a disclaimer on the big screens. pretty icon-
The Censor Board has also asked for a ic in itself,
letter from the makers of the highly-an- there’s a
ticipated film where they must clarify sense of ex-
the use of several things related to the citement for
Armed Forces. These include uniform the film’s re-
codes as well as signs and symbols. lease now”.
The runtime of Bade Miyan Chote Following its
Miyan is 2 hours and 44 minutes. US premiere,
Besides Akshay and Tiger, the film also Monkey Man is
stars Manushi Chhillar, Alaya F and Son- slated to release soon
akshi Sinha and Ronit Roy in pivotal roles. in India.
On the other hand, South superstar
Prithviraj Sukumaran, who is garnering
praises for his latest Malayalam film Aadu-

ON CLOUD
jeevitham: The Goat Life, will be seen
playing the negative role in the film.

NINE Actress recognised as a Young Global

Leader by World Economic Forum
CJ DESK uals under the age of 40 for
tackling some of the world’s
limate warrior and most urgent challenges. The

C thought leader Bhu-

mi Pednekar is being
recognised as a
Young Global Leader
(YGL) by World Economic Fo-
rum. She will be inducted
into the prestigious YGL’s
class of 2024 at Geneva later
this year. Bhumi’s contribu-
tion towards raising aware-
ness on sustainability and
climate change along with
objective of the programme
is to empower these individu-
als who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership and
commitment to shaping a
more sustainable and inclu-
sive future.
In response to being select-
ed as a Young Global Leader,
Bhumi Pednekar expressed
her joy by saying, “I am
deeply honored and humbled

Baby
her incredible work to save
lives during the COVID-19
pandemic has been hailed by
one and all.
The Young Global Leaders
community, initiated by the
esteemed World Economic Fo-
to be recognised by the World
Economic Forum as a Young
Global Leader. Through my
work, I have strived to ignite
conversations, inspire ac-
tion, and foster tangible
change in the realm of sus-

on the
rum, aims to recognise and tainability and climate
honour outstanding individ- change.”

way Honest reply

CJ DESK
CJ DESK latest interviews, Diljit
wara Paagal Deewana shared insights into film-

A actor Aarti Chabria is

all set to embrace moth-
erhood. She and her hus- A
ctor Diljit Dosanjh, who is gearing
up for the release of Imtiaz Ali’s
Amar Singh Chamkila, said he felt
band Visharad Beedassy are ex- the late folk singer and musician’s
pecting their first child. energy on sets while they were
The Tum Se Achcha Kaun Hai actor shooting for the film. The
shared the news with her fans through film is set in Punjab and
a sweet post on her Instagram handle. Chamkila’s death scene
She looked gorgeous in the post, wear- was shot exactly where
ing a black dress that was off-the-shoul- he was shot dead.
der and a necklace with an emerald pen- For those unversed,
dant. The actor proudly flaunted her baby Chamkila and his wife,
bump with a beaming smile. singer Amarjyot, were
Sharing the exciting news, she cap- killed by unknown as-
tioned the post, “This is where I’ve sailants in 1988. How-
been.... Enjoying the best months focussing ever, the exact mo-
on creation, nurturing and evolving into the tive behind their
most beautiful real life role of my LIFE (red- murders remains
heart emoji) #goodnews #blessings” unclear, and the
Neil Nitin Mukesh congratulated the couple case remains un-
and wrote, “Congratulations to you my dear- solved.
est” Fans also reacted to the post. In one of his
ing the death scene of
Chamkila for the biogra-
phical drama. He also
shared a post of his inter-
action on his official In-
stagram account.
When asked if he could Late Amar Singh Chamkila
feel Chamkila’s energy
on set, Diljit stated, “Hundred per cent, I could
feel it. Humne wahi shoot kiya jaha Chamkile ko
mara gaya tha.”
The actor further revealed that while filming
the said scene, he accidentally fell at the
exact spot where Chamkila was shot, clutching
a tumbi (a single-string plucking musical in-
strument) in his hand. As he fell, one of the
tumbi strings grazed his fingers, drawing blood.
He said that this moment made him realise that
he was likely at the very spot where Chamkila’s
blood had been spilled after he was gunned
down. “During the shoot, I suddenly felt “yahi
pe Chamkile ka khoon gira tha,” he added.
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