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Front Page

- NEET retest only if entire exam vitiated, SC assures students

- SC to hear CBI plea against Koli acquittal

- Rejig in spl cell, may be renamed ATS

- Lightning kills 12 in Bihar, 37 die in 6 days

- Soumya case: SC notice to 4 convicts

- BSP murder: Top cop moved out

- NTA cites data, claims there’s no ‘systemic leak’

- French kiss: Left, centrists come together to keep right out of office

- T’gana fines mining-lease violators `3k cr after survey

- India added 4.7cr jobs in FY24; 6% growth double of previous yr: RBI data

- Car no. 0001 auctioned for `23 lakh, 0009 fetches `11L

- 6-time Cong MLA sworn in as BJP minister in MP

- Terrorists ambush Army truck in J&K, 4 soldiers, 1 cop killed

- Revisit rustication order: HC to TISS appellate authority

- ‘Honour’ killing? DU boy abducted, beaten to death

- ‘Baba’ could’ve stopped crush, probe panel told

- At least 31 people

- 4 die in clash over farm water in Pjb

- In just a week, 200+ vehicle theft FIRs

- Man shoots mother of survivor, kills self

- Olive branch answer to peepal problem

- MUMBAI DRENCHER: 170MM IN 3 HRS

- Ahead of bilateral summit, Putin rolls out red carpet, holds pvt dinner for Modi

- Courts can’t ask accused to share live location as bail condition, says SC

- Dad of BMW accused gets bail, driver in jail

NEET retest only if entire exam vitiated, SC assures students

Seeks CBI Report On Probe Status By Tomorrow

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday sought a report from CBI on its investigation into the NEET-UG question paper leak by Wednesday and assured over 23 lakh students who took the exam on May 5 that it may order a retest only if the beneficiaries of the leak could not be identified and the integrity of the entrance exam for MBBS courses was found to have been completely vitiated.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard a batch of over 50 petitions by candidates, who through lead counsel Narender Hooda have sought cancellation of NEET-UG by citing the paper leak, first detected in Patna, and other irregularities reported from different states, by arguing that the entire examination was vitiated as the questions and answers were available on social media.

The bench said a retest could be ordered only if three conditions were met — one, the alleged paper leak was sy- stemic; two, if the leak compromised the sanctity and integrity of the entire test; and, three, if it was not possible to identify and segregate the beneficiaries of the fraud from the untainted candidates.

The bench, however, emphasised that it would not order a retest “if the breach is confined to specific centres and it is possible to identify and segregate beneficiaries”.

67 getting full marks, P 10

SC to hear CBI plea against Koli acquittal

Supreme Court Monday entertained CBI appeals challenging Allahabad HC judgments acquitting Surinder Koli, who was awarded death sentences in 12 cases of sexual assault and murder of girls and women in what became infamous as the Nithari killings. Koli is serving life term in another case. SC did not stay the HC order as that would mean activating trial court judgments imposing capital punishment.

P7

Rejig in spl cell, may be renamed ATS

In a major shake-up in Delhi Police special cell’s New Delhi Range, six key inspectors have been transferred and moved to non-operational units. There is a chance that the unit may be renamed as Delhi ATS.

P2

Lightning kills 12 in Bihar, 37 die in 6 days

Twelve more people were killed in lightning strikes in seven districts of Bihar in the past 24 hours. In all, 37 people have lost their lives due to lightning strikes in the last six days, including 25 in the last 48 hours.

TNN

Soumya case: SC notice to 4 convicts

SC on Monday issued notice to the four convicts in the murder of Soumya Vishwanathan following police’s appeal challenging Delhi HC’s order suspending their life sentences and giving them interim bail.

P 2

BSP murder: Top cop moved out

Three days after the BSP state chief was murdered in Chennai, senior IPS officer A Arun has replaced Sandeep Rai Rathore as city police commissioner. Arun vowed to talk to criminals “in their language”.

P 8

NTA cites data, claims there’s no ‘systemic leak’

NTA has said that only 175 candidates from 12 centres in Patna and eight from two Godhra centres managed to score 640 or above in NEET-UG. None of the candidates from the Godhra centres under scrutiny scored 680 or above, and only 35 candidates from the Patna centres achieved this score, it said. Claiming there was no “systemic leak”, agency officials told TOI that the top 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 students were distributed across the 800-plus centres and were not necessarily from the cohort of centres under scrutiny.

NTA said its data analysis did not indicate a “larger leak” beyond Patna.

P 10

French kiss: Left, centrists come together to keep right out of office

Dramatic Swing In Fortunes Between 1st & 2nd Round

Voters celebrate the results at Paris’s Republique Plaza

Paris: French voters have given a broad leftist coalition the most seats in elections to the National Assembly, the more important of the two houses of Parliament, keeping the far right away from office. Yet, no party won an outright majority (289 in a house of 577), putting France in an uncertain, unprecedented situation just weeks before it hosts the Olympics.

NFP (New Popular Front), the four-party left-green alliance, won 182 seats, and President Macron’s centrist alliance pulled off a strong performance and came seco- nd with 168, pushing Marine Le Pen’s far right National Rally (RN) and allies to third position, which polled maximum voteshare. RN accused the left and centrists of forging an “alliance of dishonour” to keep it from a majority.

Macron says he will wait to decide his next steps. PM Gabriel Attal, who had put in his papers, has been as- ked to “temporarily” remain head of govt, and he has said he will stay in charge during Paris Olympics which begins July 26.

Ahung house is a first for modern France. The Assembly has final say in law-making over Senate, dominated by conservatives. AGENCIES

 Related report, PAGE OPP

EDIT: Oui the People; Questions Voters Asked

How tactical voting kept far right out, FLAP INSIDE

T’gana fines mining-lease violators `3k cr after survey

Hyderabad: Mineral-rich Telangana has slapped Rs 3,000 crore in penalties on 180 mining companies found operating beyond their leased areas and allegedly cheating the govt every year of royalty or seigniorage fees estimated to be in the range of Rs 2,000-3,000 crore annually, reports Koride Mahesh.

Show-cause and demand notices have been sent to these lessees to pay their outstanding dues along with fines calculated at 5-10% of the seigniorage fees within a fortnight, the mines and geology department said. Congress-governed Telangana garners Rs 5,500 crore in seigniorage fees annually. The crackdown in the southern state is based on a scientific survey of mining zones.

Have shut 886 mines, P 12

India added 4.7cr jobs in FY24; 6% growth double of previous yr: RBI data

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: India added nearly 4.7 crore jobs in the 2023-24 fiscal year, a Reserve Bank of India report showed on Monday, higher than several other estimates.

Employment growth rate was estimated at 6% in 2023-24, higher than the 3.2% recorded in 2022-23, according to the report, which measures industry productivity and employment. This is the first time that RBI has tried to extrapolate a provisional estimate of productivity for fiscal year 2023-24, using available numbers.

The central bank has issued provisional numbers in its report, which aims to measure productivity across 27 industries that are aggregated to form six broad sectors, including agriculture, hun- ting, forestry and fishing, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, electricity, gas and water supply, construction and services. The KLEMS database was constructed using numbers compiled from NSO, NSSO, ASI and other sources.

Govt cites RBI report, P 9

Car no. 0001 auctioned for `23 lakh, 0009 fetches `11L

Abhinav.Rajput@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: The price of vanity cannot be quantified, but there was an indication of sorts when the auction of the coveted 0001 vehicle licence plate attracted a bid of Rs 23.4 lakh in March. The amount could have bought two premium hatchbacks or a well-equipped SUV, but the desire to flaunt a status symbol seems to have overcome all economic considerations.

Data from Delhi govt’s transport department showed that 0001 received the astounding bid in March, the highest in all monthly auctions this year till June. The buyer's details weren’t sha- red to protect the individual’s privacy. 0009 was second on the list, selling for Rs 11 lakh in June, while 0007 didn’t do too badly, fetching Rs 10.8 lakh in the Jan auction.

Ego trip, P 5

6-time Cong MLA sworn in as BJP minister in MP

Suchandana.Gupta@timesofindia.com

Bhopal: A Congress MLA was sworn in as a minister in BJP-led MP govt, that too twice in 15 minutes, here on Monday. Ram Niwas Rawat, a six-time legislator from Vijaypur, joined BJP at a public meeting on April 30. But he refused to formally quit Congress till BJP fulfilled its promise of making him a minister, according to sources.

At Raj Bhavan on Monday, Rawat first took oath as a ‘rajya mantri’ (junior minister). Whether it was a slip of the tongue that he called himself “rajya mantri” instead of “rajya ka mantri” or a procedural gaffe isn’t known, but he had to take oath again, now as a cabinet minister.

 ‘Cong neither gave...’,P 10

‘Won’t work for you if you don’t vote for me’

Om Kumar, BJP MLA from UP’s Nehtaur who lost the LS polls from Nagina, has warned people at an event: “If you don’t vote for me, I won’t work for you (agar vote nahi, to kaam bhi nahi).” He added: “I won’t let govt officials who don’t listen to my workers stay in this district.”

P 9

Terrorists ambush Army truck in J&K, 4 soldiers, 1 cop killed

Patrol Vehicle Attacked With Grenades & Guns

Sanjay Khajuria TNN

Jammu: Four soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), and a J&K police constable were killed Monday in a terrorist ambush on a military patrol truck in the remote village of Badnota in Kathua district. Six other soldiers were wounded in the attack, which marks a month of escalating terror-related violence in the Jammu division, beginning with four attacks on June 9, 11 and 12.

The ambush pattern resembled previous attacks on military convoys in Jammu, including an ambush on two IAF vehicles on May 4 in Poonch district that resulted in the death of Corporal Vikky Pahade. Last year, similar attacks in Poonch and Rajouri districts on Dec 21 and Nov 22 claimed the lives of nine soldiers, including two captains.

Monday’s ambush is the second major terror attack in Kathua this year, after a June 11 shootout at Seda Sohal village in Hiranagar left a CRPF constable and two suspected Pakistani terrorists dead.

According to a security source, the attack occurred around 3.30pm on Machedi-Kindli-Malhar road near Badnota in Lohai Malhar, approximately 120km from Kathua district headquarters and 230km from Jammu city. “An Army truck was on routine patrol when it came under attack with grenades and heavy gunfire,” the source said.

The wounded men were shifted to a sub-district hospital in Billawer, while two soldiers with critical bullet wounds were taken to a military hospital. Names of the slain soldiers weren’t disclosed till the filing of this report.

Following the ambush, the terrorists fled into nearby forests. Reinforcements were dispatched, and a search operation is under way for the attackers, believed to be three heavily-armed men who recently entered the Jammu region from Pakistan. Officials said the route used by the terrorists was likely a conduit into the hinterland from across the border.

Combined teams of Army, J&K police and paramilitary personnel are pursuing the terrorists in the dense jungle and mountainous terrain.

7 killed in 3 days, P 12

Revisit rustication order: HC to TISS appellate authority

A Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student’s appeal against her rustication has to be decided without mixing it with another complaint of sexual harassment lodged by her against a faculty member, Bombay HC has directed. The HC quashed an order of a TISS appellate authority (AA) that upheld her rustication and has directed that the student’s appeal be reconsidered. The court rapped AA for “travelling beyond the scope of the appeal”.

FLAP INSIDE

‘Honour’ killing? DU boy abducted, beaten to death

A second-year BA student of DU’s School of Open Learning was allegedly abducted from near his home in northeast Delhi, taken to UP’s Baghpat and beaten to death. The family accused of killing the youth claimed he had raped and blackmailed their 19-year-old daughter. The victim’s mother refuted the charges. An FIR was filed against seven people while police in Baghpat have arrested two persons for the crime.

P2

‘Baba’ could’ve stopped crush, probe panel told

A week after the Hathras ‘satsang’ stampede claimed 121 lives, 34 local residents and eyewitnesses have testified before a judicial panel. Some said the instruction of Surajpal Singh, the preacher known as ‘Bhole Baba’, to devotees to collect mud from his feet caused a chaotic rush. “Had he asked them to stop once things started going wrong, the tragedy would not have been so severe,” Dev Chaudhary, a local, testified.

P9

At least 31 people

At least 31 people were killed in Russian strikes in Ukraine, 2 of them at a kids’ hospital in Kyiv (above) Monday

INSIDE JACKET

4 die in clash over farm water in Pjb

Four people were killed when two groups of villagers armed with guns and sharpedged weapons clashed over distribution of irrigation water at Sri Hargobindpur in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district Sunday evening. Cops rushed in, but the SHO’s vehicle was hit by gunfire.

TNN

In just a week, 200+ vehicle theft FIRs

Delhi Police registered over 200 FIRs in the past one week under the new section in BNS dedicated to vehicle thefts, which has enhanced punishment of seven years. Cops hope vehicle thefts will come down.

P 3

Man shoots mother of survivor, kills self

A man, 22, accused of gang rape and out on bail, opened fire at the survivor, 18, her parents and two sisters before shooting himself dead on Monday. The girl’s mother died, while the others are in a Kanpur hospital.

P11

Olive branch answer to peepal problem

Thanks to a consensus on cutting a peepal branch, a Tazia procession can pass through Hindu-dominated Maurya Mohall in Bareilly without any hindrance. For years, a pit was dug so that the tall Tazia could pass.

P8

MUMBAI DRENCHER: 170MM IN 3 HRS

Chunabhatti rly stn

➤ 268mm rain at Santacruz in 24hrs till 8.30am Monday — 2nd highest for a July day in 15 years. Total 395mm rain in 39 hours as station records 127mm more till 11.30pm

➤ 170mm of the 268mm received within a span of 3 hours (2.30am-5.30am)

➤ 50 flights cancelled. Runway shut for 70 mins, 27 arriving flights diverted

➤ 200 suburban, 15 long-distance trains cancelled

SEE P 8

Ahead of bilateral summit, Putin rolls out red carpet, holds pvt dinner for Modi

No Solution Can Be Found On Battlefield, PM To Tell President

Russian President Putin receives PM Modi in Moscow on Monday

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Russia laid out the red carpet for PM Narendra Modi as he landed in Moscow on Monday to attend the 22nd India-Russia annual summit, the first since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Before the talks on Tuesday, President Vladimir Putin held a private dinner for Modi during which the two discussed bilateral cooperation that has deepened in the recent past on the back of India’s increased oil imports from Russia.

According to govt sources, the visit will focus on economic issues, including energy, trade, manufacturing and fer- tilisers. The visit will also be used by the PM to convey to Putin, as an official source put it, that “no solution can be found on the battlefield” to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Ahead of leaving for Moscow for his first bilateral visit in his third term, Modi said he’s looking forward to sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues.

Seek Indians’ release, P 11

Courts can’t ask accused to share live location as bail condition, says SC

‘It’s Violation Of Right To Privacy’

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Frowning upon courts, including itself, for directing accused to share their ‘live location’ with investigating agencies as a condition for being released on bail, Supreme Court Monday said that allowing a probe agency to continuously peep into the life of a person would constitute violation of the right to privacy.

A bench of Justices Abhay SOka and Ujjal Bhuyan reminded all courts to ensure that bail conditions should be such that constitutional rights of an accused were curtailed only to the “minimum extent required” and to maintain restraint and refrain from imposing “fanciful, arbitrary or freakish” conditions.

‘Can’t be so severe’, P 12

IN THE COURTS

➤ SC intervenes in deadlock between Bengal govt and guv over appointment of VCs, forms selection panel

P 9

➤ SC lays down guidelines against disparaging depiction of disability in films

PG OPP

➤ Imposing menstrual leave could be counter-productive to women’s participation in workforce: SC

PG OPP

➤ Karnataka HC cites China’s law, refuses to let Chinese woman accused in loan app case return home

P 9

➤ Complainant turns out to be the killer, gets life

P 3

Dad of BMW accused gets bail, driver in jail

Mumbai: A day after a woman died in a hit-and-run involving a BMW allegedly driven by the son of a Shinde Sena functionary, police revealed the 45-year-old victim who was dragged was run over. They also said the neta instructed the family driver to swap seats with his son and take the blame, report Mateen Hafeez & Sandhya Nair.

On Monday, Sena functionary Rajesh Shah was sent to judicial custody and granted cash bail of Rs 15,000. His chauffeur, 30-year-old Rajrishi Bidawat, was sent to police custody for a day. They were arrested Sunday for helping main accused Mihir flee. Shah’s lawyer said the charge of culpab- le homicide was not applicable as Shah was neither at the spot nor driving the car.

Pinned by her saree, P 12

Liquor smugglers hit excise vehicle, kill staff

A Maharashtra excise department personnel died and three others were injured on Monday when their vehicle overturned in Nashik after being hit by an SUV smuggling liquor to Gujarat. The excise team was trying to intercept the smugglers’ SUV after a nearly 100km chase. The victim, 52-yr-old Kailas Kasbe, was driving the vehicle.

P 9

Times Nation

- Teacher turns ghostbuster

- Chennai top cop shunted out

- File action-taken report on Kol CP & DCP, guv tells Didi

- 268mm of rain in 24 hrs stuns Max City

- Raj adds Ayodhya consecration day to school festival calendar

- PM should come & listen to people here: Rahul in Manipur

- Netas get taste of aam aadmi woes, alight from trains, trudge on tracks

- ED challenges HC bail for Soren in top court

- 32 yrs on, peepal branch axed for amity

- Amid WB-guv row over VCs, SC sets up selection panel

- SC steps in to disburse `2k cr unclaimed crash payout in Guj

- SC nixes WB plea against CBI probe into ration scam cases

- Chinese accused denied HC nod for home trip to see ailing dad

- Mahua, Union mantri spar over border ‘passes’ to ‘smugglers’

- Trai wants cable, DTH set-top boxes to be interoperable

- Didn’t vote for me, won’t work for you, says BJP MLA who lost LS polls

- Govt cites RBI report, says 8+ cr jobs created between 2017-18 and 2021-22

- Baba could’ve stopped stampede: Witnesses

- Cops: Bishnoi targeted Salman to assert Mumbai dominance

- Liquor smugglers ram SUV into Maha excise dept’s car, 1 killed

- Cong neither gave recognition nor respect: MP MLA after joining BJP

- Top 11k ranks spread evenly across 800 NEET centres: NTA

- 67 candidates getting full marks surprises SC

- 49 hurt as bus overturns:

- Hemant wins trust vote, fills 12 cabinet slots

- Woman bites Customs officer to evade check

- Rape accused opens fire at survivor, her family, later kills self

- Denied free chips, duo kills 3-year-old

- Pune CID constable dies in hit-&-run

- Maoist gunned down in MP

- Flyer from Thailand held with 402 iguanas at Chennai airport

- PM expected to seek Indians’ release from Russian army

- Have shut 886 mines over violations, says Telangana official

- SC: Riders can’t be so severe as to frustrate bail order itself

- ‘Pinned by her saree, woman dangled between bumper & wheels for 1.5km’

- 7 personnel killed in terror attacks in 3 days in J&K

- Diversion of SC/ST funds for Cong’s K’taka pledges ‘injustice’: BJP

Teacher turns ghostbuster

Do ghosts exist? Students at Mandal Parishad Upper Primary School at Anandpur in Telangana believed they did — and that their haunt was a classroom at a corner of the school used by standard 5 students. But that was till Nuthal Ravindar, a rationalist, joined as a teacher last week, reports Sushil Rao. While teaching class 7 students one day, a tree fell outside and Ravinder saw students shake in fear. They told him about a “ghost” in class 5. Though Ravindar tried to convince them that ghosts didn’t exist, the kids were sure of the noises they had often heard from that particular room. To prove them wrong, Ravindar said he would sleep in that room at night. The students then insisted that he should do so on July 5, which was Amavasya. Next morning, the myth was busted.

Chennai top cop shunted out

Three days after BSP state president K Armstrong was murdered in Chennai, senior IPS officer A Arun has replaced Sandeep Rai Rathore as city police commissioner. Soon after taking charge on Monday, Arun, without mentioning the Armstrong murder, vowed to talk to criminals “in their language”. Arun is current additional director general of police (ADGP), law and order. The home department has downgraded the post of commissioner of police from DGP to ADGP rank, according to the order issued by P Amudha, principal secretary to state govt. Arun had been earlier assigned the additional charge of director of Enforcement Bureau-CID (EB-CID), after Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal was transferred to the DGP office on June 20, following the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy.

TNN

File action-taken report on Kol CP & DCP, guv tells Didi

Bose Had Sent Plaint Against The Two Earlier

Governor Bose had accused Kolkata top cop Vineet Goyal (in pic) and DCP Indira Mukherjee of conduct ‘unbecoming of a public servant’

Debashis.Konar@timesofindia.com

Kolkata: Bengal governor C V Ananda Bose wrote to CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday, seeking an action taken report on his complaint against Kolkata police commissioner Vineet Goyal and DC (central) Indira Mukherjee, both of whom he accused of conduct “completely unbecoming of a public servant”. Mukherjee heads the special inquiry team constituted to probe a former Raj Bhavan staffer’s molestation charge against the governor.

Bose’s missive to Mamata came within hours of TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh telling reporters, “If the governor has the courage, he should face the investigation (into molestation charge).”

Bose had complained to MHA against the two IPS officers in June, accusing them of preventing victims of poll-related violence from entering Raj Bhavan to meet him. He also sought a status report on the inquiry into a couple being flogged at Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur and allegations of a woman being stripped in public.

Ghosh said police had acted in accordance with their brief. “If action is tak- en against police, old issues will resurface,” he added.

“If someone thinks he can commit an act, remain untouchable behind shield of constitutional immunity, and try to stop an investigation by putting pressure on police, then it is called the game of the influential.”

Ghosh said the ex-Raj Bhavan staffer, who moved SC over the alleged delay in probing her complaint, had every right to seek justice.

BJP slams TMC for flogging case in Kolkata

New Delhi: As another video of a girl being flogged in Bengal, this time in a Kolkata locality, went viral, BJP Monday hit out at the Mamata Banerjee govt, accusing Trinamool Congress of inflicting atrocities against women in the state time and again.

“Flogging of Meherun Nesha in Bengal’s Chopra was not an isolated instance of Mamata Banerjee’s men dispensing instant justice,” said BJP’s deputy in-charge for Bengal, Amit Malviya.

He shared the viral video in which a group of men is seen assaulting a woman. “TMC men usually target women, who turn down their overtures... Perhaps Mamata Banerjee can explain why her confidant Madan Mitra’s men are assaulting the girl,” Malviya added.

TNN

268mm of rain in 24 hrs stuns Max City

Chunabhatti railway station after Monday’s downpour. The 268mm of rain in 24 hours recorded at Santacruz was the second-highest July rainfall in the past 15 years

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The first heavy downpour of this monsoon jammed the wheels of Maximum City on Monday.

Mumbai received intense rainfall between 2.30am and 5.30am, even as IMD’s Santacruz observatory recorded 268mm rain in a 24-hour period, the second highest July day rainfall in a decade. Some areas received more than 300mm, a third of the catastrophic downpour that had flooded Mumbai on July 26, 2005.

The total rainfall recorded by IMD Santacruz observatory this season so far is 734.8mm, of which almost 36% or more than one-third was on Sunday and Monday.

Inundated roads threw traffic off gear, trains came to a crawl along waterlogged tracks, and 26 flight arrivals and 24 departures were cancelled, while 27 arrivals were diverted to Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Indore.

One silver lining was a 4% increase in total water stock in lakes.

Schools and colleges were forced to call a holiday or close early. BMC and neighbouring civic bodies said schools and colleges will remain shut on Tuesday too.

CM Eknath Shinde took stock of the situation while the state assembly was adjourned for lack of quorum. Mantralaya allowed its staff to leave early as did other offices and establishments.

Toddler falls from bike due to pothole, dies

An 18-month-old boy lost his life after a bike driven by his grandfather hit a pothole filled with rainwater on Boisar-Navapur Road in Palghar, causing the child to be thrown off the vehicle.

TNN

Raj adds Ayodhya consecration day to school festival calendar

Jaipur: Rajasthan school education dept has designated Jan 22, the day on which Ram Lalla idol in Ayodhya was consecrated, as a “festival” on the annual calendar of festivals in schools, reports Suparna Roy. Issued for parents, the calendar outlines topics they are required to discuss with students to monitor their growth. It also identifies, month wise, festivals during the year.

While Jan 22 is marked as a festival, the calendar doesn’t say how schools will celebrate the day, or what activities students are expected to participate in. It, however, provides general directions on how festivals or significant days are to be observed.

Covering the current academic year, the almanac lists festivals, national holidays, and important international days. “The consecration day has been included in the calendar as it is a historic day. We are consulting experts on how the day can be celebrated in schools. There will be no holiday on Jan 22, and it will be celebrated by students of all classes,” Rajasthan education minister Madan Diwalar stated.

PM should come & listen to people here: Rahul in Manipur

Rahul Gandhi interacts with children at a relief camp in Churachandpur

Prabin.Kalita@timesofindia.com

Guwahati: Congress’s Rahul Gandhi on Monday urged PM Modi to travel to Manipur and provide support to people impacted by ethnic violence. This was his third visit to the state in the past one year.

“In this huge tragedy, I request PM Narendra Modi to take one-two days off and come and listen to the people. It will comfort the people of Manipur,” Rahul said in Imphal.

He began his journey from Assam’s Cachar, where he interacted with displaced people from Manipur taking shelter at a relief camp at Fulertal. He then proceeded to Jiribam, just across the border, to visit another relief camp.

He later flew from Silchar to Imphal, from where he went to relief camps in Churachandpur and Moirang. Thereafter, he met Manipur governor Anusuiya Uikey. After the meeting, Rahul said, “We expressed our displeasure and said that we are not happy with the progress that has taken place here. I don’t want to go further into politicising this issue, that’s not my intention.”

Refusing to take questions from reporters, the Congress functionary said, “Please respect what I am saying. I have come here to give a clear message. I am not interested in answering questions designed to divert the issue... I have made my statement.”

Hours before his visit, miscreants fired at an armoured vehicle of security forces in Jiribam. A security source added that two have been arrested.

Rahul indulging in selective tragedy tourism, says BJP

BJP on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of indulging in “selective tragedy tourism”, recalling how he had skipped visiting Manipur after ethnic violence when his party was governing the state.

“Why did Rahul Gandhi not visit Churachandpur in 2015-17 to meet victims of violence that raged following Congress CM Okram Ibobi Singh govt’s decision to pass three bills that were seen by many as ‘anti-tribal’ and a ‘conspiracy’ by the majority community to grab tribal land,” asked BJP IT department chief Amit Malviya. He said Rahul’s visit was a photo-op and nothing more as he abandoned a press conference and refused to answer difficult questions.

TNN

GREAT LEVELLER

Netas get taste of aam aadmi woes, alight from trains, trudge on tracks

Chaitanya.Marpakwar@timesofindia.com

Mumbai: The city’s lifeline, its local train, can be a great leveller. MLAs and ministers, just like the common man, were hit hard by the downpour that led to disruption of services of suburban and long-distance trains Monday.

Close to 10-15 legislators from both Houses of the state legislature were stranded in trains before Kurla and Thane. Some had to walk on tracks to reach Kurla station to try and reach south Mumbai, in time for the assembly session. Relief and rehabilitation minister Anil Patil legged it for 2 km on waterlogged tracks.

The opposition slammed the netas for walking on tracks when common people are told not to, especially on waterlogged tracks. In a post on X, NCP (SP) neta Clyde Crasto said: “Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav, RPF. Isn’t it illegal to walk and trespass on railway tracks? Whatever the circumstances, public representatives, just like other citizens, are supposed to obey the law and set an example. What action do you propose after seeing this video?”.

Minister Anil Patil said he got the experience of crossing tracks for the first time in rainwater. He said he told railway authorities not to halt passenger trains between stations. “I’ve learnt that passenger trains must not stop between stations,” Patil said. “If trains stop between stations, people get off and walk... There is a chance of them falling into a drain.”

Videos of legislators hotfooting it on the tracks, with their PAs lugging their bags, went viral on social media. Bodyguards were also seen in tow. Most MLAs were on their way to Mumbai from Vidarbha and Marathwada. Stranded between Dadar and Kurla stations, he said 10 other MLAs kept him company. “This is a different experience... Common man has been hit by the rains,” he said in the video.

Minister Hasan Mushriff from NCP (Ajit Pawar) got off from Mahalaxmi Express at Kalyan and took a car to reach Vidhan Bhavan. Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad said, “We were told there are massive traffic snarls. So, some of the MLAs stayed on the train, and others walked.”

ED challenges HC bail for Soren in top court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: ED moved SC on Monday challenging Jharkhand HC’s decision to grant bail to Hemant Soren, which paved the way for his return as CM, on the ground that HC failed to consider direct evidence against him relating to land grab and money laundering.

HC had granted bail to Soren on June 28 saying prima facie there appeared to be no di- rect evidence to link him to the land scam and that there was no likelihood of him committing similar offences in future.

In its special leave petition, ED said the HC had erred by glossing over evidence that linked Soren to illegally acquiring 12 plots measuring over 8.5 acres and drew the apex court’s attention to the alleged recovery of Rs 36 lakh from his residence in Shanti Niketan in New Delhi, during a raid.

Soren was arrested on Jan 31 by ED hours after he had resigned as CM. His party JMM’s Champai Soren succeeded him as CM, only to resign on grant of bail to Soren to pave the way for the latter to become CM again.

On May 22, the apex court had refused to entertain Soren’s plea challenging the validity of his arrest by ED in the land scam case. He had argued that land grab was not a predicate office under Prevention of Money Laundering Act and that the land alleged to have been forcibly taken by him was never in his name.

The refusal to admit Soren’s appeal was also for the fact that a trial court had already taken cognisance of a chargesheet filed against him in the land grab case. The trial court had also rejected his regular bail plea. Soren’s challenge to his arrest was rejected by Jharkhand high court on May 3, after which he had approached the Supreme Court.

 Hemant wins trust vote, P 11

32 yrs on, peepal branch axed for amity

The move to chop the branch was taken after talks were initiated by Muslim counsellor Anees Saklaini & BJP functionary Sanjeev Mishra

Sandeep Rai & Asif Ansari TNN

Meerut/Bareilly: Every Muharram, a branch of a peepal tree would pose a hurdle and cause headaches for the Bareilly administration. It’s located in a narrow lane in a Hindu-dominated locality, through which the Tazia procession has traditionally passed for hundreds of years.

This year, the administration found relief as both communities agreed to cut the branch after talks were initiated by Muslim counsellor Anees Saklaini and local BJP functionary Sanjeev Mishra.

In 1992, communal tension arose when the branch obstructed the 12-ft-high Tazia for the first time. Hindus, who considered the tree sacred, re- fused to cut the branch. This led to yearly communal strife, with Muslims reluctant to change the procession route.

Mild incidents of communal violence occurred, necessitating heavy police presence. To ensure peace, administration dug a 30-foot-long and 4-foot-deep pit each year for the Tazia to pass through, which was later filled.

“The tree is 250 years old and adjacent to a temple. Earlier, there was no problem, but the road was raised with repairs, causing the branch to obstruct the Tazia. Political opportunists and anti-social elements took advantage of the situation to stoke tensions,” Saklaini claimed.

“There were multiple sittings mediated by cops and civic authorities. The area has 80% Hindus, and the path leads to a sizeable Muslim populace. We brought them to a common platform. After the talks, it was decided to cut the branch,” Mishra added.

“The procession used to have 300 people, but a crowd of 3,000 would choke the lane to witness how the Tazia would negotiate its way through the pit, which would often fill with slush, posing danger,” said Puran Maurya, on whose parapet wall the branch rested.

Amid WB-guv row over VCs, SC sets up selection panel

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: As the deadlock between the West Bengal government and Governor C V Anand Bose on the appointment of vice-chancellors continues, affecting the functioning of 24 universities in the state, the Supreme Court on Monday appointed a search-and-selection committee headed by former CJI U U Lalit to recommend a panel of names. Appointments will be made from its recommended names.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan invoked its extraordinary power granted under Article 142 of the Constitution to pass the order to end the stalemate and infuse transparency, independence, fairness and impartiality in the process. The court made eminent educationists, scientists, jurists, subject experts and administrators from several universities from across the country part of the search panel.

“The learned chairperson is hereby authorised to constitute separate or joint search-cum-selection committees for one or more universities, keeping in view the nature of subjects/disciplines in which education is being imparted in such pooled universities. The chairperson is requested to nominate persons out of the empanelled experts, whom he finds capable of short-listing suitable names for appointment as vice-chancellors. Learned chairperson shall preside over every search-cum-selection committee and thus, composition of each such committee shall be five. The search-cum-selection committee shall prepare a panel of at least three names (alphabetically and not in order of merit) for each university,” the order said.

“We deem it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice in this matter and pass this common order for constitution of search-cum-selection committee for all the subject universities...,” the bench said.

SC steps in to disburse `2k cr unclaimed crash payout in Guj

New Delhi: As crores of rupees deposited with Motor Accident Claims Tribunals and labour courts remain unclaimed and efforts are not being made to reach out to beneficiaries, Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the issue to ensure that the amounts are handed over to them.

A bench of Justices Abhay Oka and Agustine George Masih, for the time being, issued notice to Gujarat govt and Registrar of Gujarat HC as it was brought to its notice that more than Rs 2,000 crore remain deposited with the tribunal in the state. The court took cognisance on the basis of an email written to Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud seeking his indulgence to address the issue. Approximately Rs. 2,000 crores are deposited in Gujarat alone, the email pointed out.

The bench issued notice to the state through the secretary of Department of Law and Justice and the Registrar General the Gujarat HC, and sought their response by July 26. It also directed Registrar General and the Law Secretary to take steps to gather data on the amounts of compensation currently deposited with the tribunals.

TNN

SC nixes WB plea against CBI probe into ration scam cases

New Delhi: SC Monday dismissed Bengal govt’s appeal challenging a Calcutta HC order directing CBI probe into all ration scam cases, along with incidents of sexual assault and land grab in Sandeshkhali, reports Dhananjay Mahapatra.

SC refused to accept advocate A M Singhvi’s assertion that the HC order was against autonomy of the state in matters of law and order and that state police had been probing ration scam cases for four years. Singhvi said ration scam cases are unrelated to Sandeshkhali cases and state police have filed chargesheeets in 42 of the 43 FIRs it had registered.

Calcutta HC had ordered CBI probe into all ration scam cases on allegations that main accused Sheikh Sahajahan, who is in CBI custody since Feb 29, was linked to arrested former minister Jyotipriya Mallick, the alleged main accused in the multi-crore ration scam.

Singhvi said Calcutta HC erred in clubbing the Sandeshkhali incidents with the ration scam. But SC said, “These are all related to Sandeshkhali. You (West Bengal govt) did not do anything for months. You do not even arrest the accused.”

Chinese accused denied HC nod for home trip to see ailing dad

Bengaluru: Karnataka HC has denied permission to a Chinese national, accused in a loan app fraud case, to visit China for two months to be with her ailing 80-year-old father. “The petitioner is an accused in not one, but seven crimes,” HC said, while dismissing the petition filed by Hu Xiaolin.

Pointing out that foreigners undergoing trial in China were barred from leaving the country, HC said: “If laws in China prohibit such exit of a foreigners under the aforesaid circumstances, laws of India cannot be made flexible on any score whatsoever.” Hu came to India in 2017 and married Indian national Anas Ahmed.

TNN

Mahua, Union mantri spar over border ‘passes’ to ‘smugglers’

Kolkata: TMC’s Krishnanagar MP Mahua Moitra on Monday accused Union minister Shantanu Thakur of issuing “passes” to “smugglers” active on the India Bangladesh border. On her X handle, Moitra posted a photograph of the “pass” issued on Thakur’s official letterhead. Thakur claimed that he had issued special passes to persons living there on humanitarian grounds.

On Monday, Moitra posted a photograph of the “pass” issued on July 2 to the 85th battalion of BSF and purportedly signed by Thakur. It was allegedly issued to Jiarul Gazi of Hakimpur, North 24 Parganas. Gazi carried 3 kg beef with the “pass”, Moitra claimed.

“Union minister has printed forms on official letterhead to @BSF_India 85BN issuing “passes” for smugglers on Indo-Bangla border. In this case for allowing 3 kg of beef,” Moitra wrote in her post.

Thakur on Monday pointed at a public announcement by him last Dec where he had said that slips will be issued to individuals who wanted to cross the border on an emergency basis. He had earlier alleged that BSF was allowing people to exchange goods if they showed slips issued by Trinamool leaders. “The allegation is weird and silly. No minister would issue slips to smuggle 3 kg of beef,” Thakur said.

TNN

Trai wants cable, DTH set-top boxes to be interoperable

The recommendation aims to make it easier for consumers to switch operators without changing set-top boxes

Pankaj.Doval@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: In what may come in as a relief for millions of DTH and cable TV subscribers, regulator Trai has recommended that they make set-top boxes (STBs) interoperable, a measure that will make it easier for consumers to switch from one operator to another without changing the STBs.

Another key recommendation that may impact monthly TV tariffs, Trai removed the Network Capacity Fee (NCF) that service providers charge consumers (Rs 130 for 200 channels and Rs 160 on over 200 channels), giving them the option to charge less in the name of competitive spirit and regional issues.

“Ceilings of Rs 130 for 200 channels and Rs 160 on more than 200 channels have been removed on NCF and is kept under forbearance to make it market driven as well as equitable. Service provider may now charge different NCF based on number of channels, different regions, different customer classes or any combination thereof. To ensure transparency, all such charges have to be mandatorily published by the service providers and communicated to the consumers besides reporting to the Trai,” it said while notifying ‘Amendments to the Regulatory framework for Broadcasting and Cable Services’.

On the interoperability of STBs – which the cable and DTH operators have been resisting for years citing technological challenges and proprietary software issues – Trai said it is desirable. “The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting may direct private DPOs (cable and DTH providers) to adopt and implement interoperable STBs,” Trai said.

Didn’t vote for me, won’t work for you, says BJP MLA who lost LS polls

Bijnor: BJP MLA from Nahtaur assembly constituency, Om Kumar, who recently lost the Lok Sabha poll from Nagina seat to Azad Samaj Party chief Chandrashekhar Azad, lashed out at voters: “Now those days have gone when people would not vote for me and I would tell them that if they did not vote this time, they should vote next time and I would work for them without any discrimination. But now if you do not vote for me, I will not work for you. (Sabka saath sabka vikas will not work here).” His statement at an event was widely circulated on social media, reports Harveer Dabas.

Kumar also warned officers: “Officers who do not respect my workers and supporters will not be allowed to stay in the district. I will do anything for my supporters.

Some netas misguided people about our Constitution. But I want to tell them that our Constitution will always remain the strongest in the world.” He attacked Azad, who had compared the kanwar yatra to ‘namaaz’ during Eid, saying, “The man who has been objecting to the kanwar yatra, I tell such people that if they have the courage, they should stop the yatra.”

Govt cites RBI report, says 8+ cr jobs created between 2017-18 and 2021-22

Continued from P 1

The latest data is likely to add to the debate over jobs that has emerged as a major issue and was one of the dominant themes in some parts of the country in the just-concluded general elections. Several other estimates have pointed to high unemployment rates in the country with youth unemployment rate running in double digits.

The release of the RBI’s KLEMS data follows a Citigroup India report on jobs released last week, which said India will struggle to create enough jobs for its growing workforce even with a 7% economic growth. The report had also said that India will need to create 1.2 crore jobs a year over the next decade, but the growth rate will only allow for the creation of 80-90 lakh jobs.

On Monday, the labour ministry issued a detailed rebuttal to the Citigroup India report prepared by its economists. An official statement said that according to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and RBI’s KLEMS data, India has generated more than eight crore jobs from 2017-18 to 2021-22.

“This translates to an average of over two crore employment per year, despite the fact that the world economy was hit by Covid-19 pandemic during 2020-21, which contradicts Citigroup’s assertion of India’s inability to generate sufficient employment. This significant employment creation demonstrates the effectiveness of various government initiatives aimed at boosting employment across sectors,” said the statement.

The unemployment rate has declined from 6.0 % in 2017-18 to a low of 3.2% in 2022-23, the statement said citing the PLFS data. “The PLFS data shows that during the last five years, more employment opportunities have been generated compared to the number of people joining the labour force, resulting in a consistent reduction in the unemployment rate,” said the release.

“This is a clear indicator of the positive impact of government policies on employment. Contrary to the report, which suggests a dire employment scenario, the official data reveals a more optimistic picture of the Indian job market,” the statement added.

Baba could’ve stopped stampede: Witnesses

Order To Collect Mud From Feet Triggered Rush, Probe Panel Told

Had Baba used the microphone to ask people to stop, the tragedy would not have been so severe, a witness said

Mohd Dilshad & Deepak Lavania | TNN

Hathras: Locals and eyewitnesses have blamed Surajpal Singh, alias Bhole Baba, for the stampede during his sermon that claimed 121 lives in Hathras last Tuesday. Recording for the first time their statements before the judicial commission formed by the state to investigate the incident, some of the 34 individuals testified that Bhole Baba’s instruction to the gathering to collect the mud from his feet after the sermon caused a chaotic rush, leading to the stampede.

Dev Chaudhary from Hathras testified that the stampede started when Baba told the crowd to collect dust from his feet. He mentioned the lack of security and volunteers at the scene, saying, “Women were crying... There were no security arrangements or Baba’s volunteers at the scene. Had he used the microphone to ask people to stop, the tragedy would not have been so severe.”

Other eyewitnesses accused the ‘sevadars (volunteers)’ of “roughing up and pushing followers aside to clear the way for Bhole Baba’s convoy”. Brij Bihari Kaushik, another witness, blamed the “absence of adequate police force for the death toll” but was equally critical of the way the organisers’ private security handled the situation.

The commission, led by retired Allahabad HC judge Brijesh Kumar Srivastav, scrutinised the incident by gathering statements and questioning witnesses. They probed the events leading up to the stampede, the situation at the site, and the facilities provided at the hospital for the injured and dead. They also examined roles of the administration and police in ma- naging the incident and sought to identify those responsible.

Before recording statements, the commission — which also includes retired IAS officers Hemant Rao and Bhavesh Kumar — verified the witnesses’ identities and affiliations.

2 more sevadars held, 11 arrested so far

Two more people have been arrested late on Sunday night in connection with the July 2 Hathras stampede, which claimed 121 lives. The two were presented in court on Monday, report Mohd Dilshad& Deepak Lavania. So far, 11 accused, including chief volunteer Dev Prakash Madhukar, have been arrested in the case. Madhukar was the only person named in the FIR.

SIT report hints at Baba’s political links

The special investigation team (SIT) probing the Hathras stampede in UP last week submitted to the state govt late Monday its report on the tragedy that claimed at least 121 lives.

Sources said the report identified some political leaders who had significant associations with godman “Bhole Baba” during elections, along with other relevant connections. TNN

Cops: Bishnoi targeted Salman to assert Mumbai dominance

Ahmed.Ali@timesofindia.com

Mumbai: Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, on the pretext of taking revenge on actor Salman Khan for hunting a blackbuck, aimed to assert his dominance in Mumbai, particularly on Bollywood, by targeting the actor, stated a chargesheet filed by city crime branch that probed the firing on his Bandra home.

On April 14, a biker and a pillion rider fired a few rounds at Khan’s balcony at Galaxy Apartment and fled.

“During our probe, it has come to light that by firing at Salman Khan’s home, the gang wanted to show they do not fear anyone. Their intention was not to harm him but create a sense of fear. And by firing at Khan, they wanted to terrorise the film indus- try and extort money in the absence of other gangs in the city. To establish their supremacy, they even surveyed another mega star’s residence,” said an officer.

Cops Monday submitted the 1,736-page chargesheet before the MCOCA court against five members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang —Vikas Gupta, Sagar Pal, Harpal Singh alias Harry, Rafiq Choudhary and Banwarilal Gujar. Police have filed an abated summary against Anuj Thapan who died by suicide inside police lockup on May 1.

Last week, Navi Mumbai police had filed a chargesheet against five members of the gang in a separate case in Panvel court. Police said there is no connection between the five accused arrested by Panvel police and Mumbai police.

Police claimed to have substantial evidence, including digital and technical evidence, as well as circumstantial evidence, apart from 46 witnesses. Salman and his brother Arbaaz Khan have deposed and given statements against Bishnoi, expressing concerns about the security of their loved ones.

Two persons who are connected with the case have given confessional statements before a magistrate. Police have shown Lawrence Bishnoi, his cousin Anmol Bishnoi and Canada-based criminal Rohit Godara as wanted accused. Sources said cops are likely to take custody of Lawrence from Sabarmati jail.“Achcha kaam karoge to achcha paisa milega (if you do a good job, you will get good money),” Anmol allegedly told the shooters while hiring them from Haryana.

Liquor smugglers ram SUV into Maha excise dept’s car, 1 killed

TRAGIC CHASE

Santosh.Sonawane1@timesofindia.com

Nashik: A Maharashtra excise department personnel died and three others were injured on Monday when their vehicle overturned after being hit by an SUV smuggling liquor to Gujarat, in Nashik district early Monday.

The excise department team was trying to intercept the smugglers’ SUV after a nearly 100km chase from Nashik city to Chandwad, when their vehicle was hit.

The smugglers were transporting Indian Made Foreign Liquor from Daman to Gujarat via Nashik and Nandurbar. The chase ended at Harnul village at 2am on the stretch between Chandwad and Manmad, but the smugglers managed to flee.

The deceased, Kailas Kasbe (52), was driving the excise department vehicle. The injured were identified as Lasalgaon police station constables Shashikant Nikam and Arun Dongre, and Rahul Pawar of the excise department.

Shashikant Garje, superintendent of excise department, Nashik, said a tip-off was received about an SUV carrying liquor from Daman and heading towards Gujarat, following which a trap was laid. “Upon spotting a suspicious SUV (GJ 19 DX 8886) at 11.30 pm on Sunday, we gave it a chase,” he said.

The SUV driver, on realising he was being followed, took the Saikheda-Niphad-Lasalgaon route to avoid being caught. The excise personnel sought police help, and the Lasalgaon police joined in the pursuit.

Garje said when Kasbe tried to intercept the SUV, its driver hit the state vehicle, which toppled, leading to Kasbe’s death and injuries to the others.

Police and excise personnel were trying to trace the SUV and the smugglers, he said. A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for murder and attempt to murder.

Kasbe is survived by his wife, parents and a 20-year old son.

Cong neither gave recognition nor respect: MP MLA after joining BJP

Continued from P 1

It was only after he was sworn in that Ram Niwas Rawat wrote to MP assembly speaker Narendra Singh Tomar to say he resigned as a Congress legislator.

Congress was outraged. “A report with sufficient basis and authenticity was submitted before the Speaker to terminate the membership of Congress MLA Ram Niwas Rawat (on July 5). Unfortunately, he did not perform his duty. BJP, which is notorious for killing democracy, got a Congress MLA sworn in as minister. This is a blatant insult to democracy and the Constitution,” said PCC chief Jitu Patwari.

Rawat, a prominent OBC face in Gwalior-Chambal region, was a minister in the Digvijaya Singh govt and was among the few from the area who did not follow Jyotiraditya Scindia into BJP in March 2020. This is why it came as a major shock to Congress when he joined BJP in the presence of chief minister Mohan Yadav at a public meeting in Vijaypur on April 30, the very day that Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was campaigning in the state.

A week later Morena went to polls and Rawat’s switch to BJP is believed to have played a significant role in the saffron camp’s victory. Vijaypur is in Sheopur district but is part of Morena Lok Sabha constituency.

After joining BJP, Rawat claimed Congress hadn’t given him recognition or respect. Over two months after he joined BJP he was inducted as the 32nd member of Mohan Yadav’s cabinet.

The oath-taking ceremony turned out to be more dramatic. At 9.03 am, Rawat took oath as a junior minister. Instead of saying “rajya ka mantri (state’s minister), he read his oath as “rajya mantri (minister of state)”. This created a commotion amongst his supporters, who voiced their disappointment. Fifteen minutes later Rawat was again sworn in, this time as a cabinet minister.

CM Yadav, deputy CMs Rajendra Shukla & Jagdish Dewda, state BJP chief VD Sharma, state BJP organisational general secretary Hitananda Sharma & minister for water resources Tulsi Silawat were present at the swearing-in.

Top 11k ranks spread evenly across 800 NEET centres: NTA

Agency Claims There Was No ‘Systemic Leak’ Of NEET-UG Paper

Students wait outside as Supreme Court hears on Monday the case regarding alleged irregularities in NEET-UG 2024

Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: National Testing Agency (NTA) has said that only 175 candidates from 12 centres in Patna and eight from two Godhra centres managed to score 640 or above in the NEET-UG exam. None of the candidates from the Godhra centres under scrutiny scored 680 or above, and only 35 candidates from the Patna centres achieved this score, it said.

Claiming there was no “systemic leak”, agency officials told TOI that the top 1000, 5000 and 10,000 students were distributed across the 800-plus centres and were not necessarily from the cohort of centres under scrutiny.

NTA said its data analysis did not indicate a “larger leak” beyond Patna. It also said the candidate whose test booklet was investigated scored just 103 marks. “Roshni, whose booklet was confiscated by Bihar Police, scored 103 marks out of 720,” an NTA official said.

Agency officials claimed that data analysis of the top 11,000 ranks showed an even distribution across 800-plus centres. Explaining the analysis, an official said following the alleged leak, NTA examined not just the top scorers but also those beyond the top 100.

“We looked into the scoring patterns for each group of thousand candidates and their distribution. For example, the top 1,000 candidates are spread across 800 centres,” the official said. He added that the top 1 lakh candidates, who are most likely to secure MBBS or dental seats, are distributed across 4,500 of the 4,750 centres, debunking allegations that toppers were concentrated in specific centres. “If we examine even smaller groups, such as the top 5,000 candidates, they too are distributed across 780 centres,” he said.

Over 13 lakh of the 23 lakh candidates who took the medical entrance test on May 5 qualified. The official argued that if there was widespread irregularities and access to question papers as alleged, the qualification average for Patna and Godhra would have been much higher. “The qualifying average for Patna and Godhra are not only lower than the national average but also lower than their neighbouring cities and centres,” the official said.

Another concern raised by the petitioners and the SC was the significant increase in the number of perfect scorers. This year, 67 candidates scored 720, compared to just seven in the last four years. Later, six candidates were stripped of the grace marks due to time loss, which had given them perfect scores, and were offered a retest. Five who took the retest on June 23 scored less than 720.

67 candidates getting full marks surprises SC

NTA and the Centre have to submit their replies by 5pm on Wednesday

Continued from P 1

It should not lead to cancellation of NEET-UG given the massive scale on which it is conducted at 4,750 centres in 571 cities across India and 14 cities abroad involving more than 23 lakh students who had studied hard and undertaken cost and efforts and would have to go through a fresh test, the bench said.

Every year, about 23-24 lakh students compete for 1.08 lakh MBBS seats in various medical colleges, including 56,000 govt-run ones.

Posting the matters for further hearing on Thursday, the CJI-led bench said it may order a fresh test if CBI status report fulfils the three parameters and after they have gone through the responses of the National Testing Agency and the Centre on the entire gamut of questions relating to the manner and mechanism of conducting the exam — right from framing of question papers by a group of experts selected by NTA to their safe custody till distribution at the test centres. NTA and the Centre have to submit their responses by 5pm Wednesday.

SC noted with surprise that compared to just seven candidates who secured full 720 marks in the previous four NEET-UG exams, the number soared to 67 this year, and asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta whether it was possible for the cyber forensic unit of the home ministry to use data analytics to scrutinise answer sheets of suspiciously high scoring candidates in order to ascertain the spread of irregularities.

Mehta said govt was ready to disclose all material but insisted that the irregulari- ties and paper leak were localised incidents which did not vitiate the sanctity or integrity of the exam across the country.

The bench said, “We have to be ruthless with those who indulged in paper leak and those who benefited from it.” It asked NTA’s counsel Naresh Kaushik to inform the court of action taken against those identified as beneficiaries of irregularities.

It asked NTA to inform also about the nature of the paper leak, the places where leak took place, the time gap between the leak and the actual conduct of examination on May 5, the manner and spread of leak and dissemination of the question paper through social media. CBI has to place the findings of its investigation into all these aspects, the SC said while asking NTA to detail the steps taken to identify the beneficiaries of the fraud and the modalities followed to order retest for 1,563 candidates.

Pushing for a glitch-free NEET-UG and similar competitive examinations in future, the bench said to prevent such incidents, it would be necessary to set up a multi-disciplinary committee whose members command public confidence to lay down modalities and processes for conducting such exams on which the future of lakhs of students hinge.

“If such a committee is already set up by the govt, full details of their credentials would be made available so that the court can modify the composition to bring together talents in the field of administration, experts in the domain and data analytics to ensure integrity of examinations,” the bench said.

49 hurt as bus overturns:

A speeding overcrowded bus overturned in Pinjore in Haryana’s Panchkula district, injuring 49 of 70 passengers, mostly students, with 3 of them and an elderly pedestrian receiving critical injuries Monday, reports Arvind Bishnoi.

The Haryana Roadways bus met with an accident at a turn in Naulta village, police said.

Hemant wins trust vote, fills 12 cabinet slots

Ranchi: Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren sailed through the first trust vote of his third term in the assembly Monday with 45 votes out of 74, including those of the two renegade JMM legislators facing disciplinary action for having contested the Lok Sabha polls as Independents, report Dhritiman Ray & ASRP Mukesh.

The BJP-led opposition staged a walkout, saying Hemant’s return to the helm was the start of another phase of dynastic governance.

“You have seen how the opposition behaved during the trust vote. I thank the speaker for conducting the vote smoothly,” Soren said.

For the first time in close to a decade, the new govt will have 12 cabinet ministers as Hemant inducted 3 new faces while benching his brother & Dumka MLA Basant Soren. Fresh inclusions are JMM’s Baidnath Ram (Latehar) and Congress MLAs Deepika Pandey Singh (Mahagama) and Irfan Ansari (Jamtara).

Stand-in CM Champai Soren, who quit on July 3 to make way for Hemant, was made minister for water resources and higher education. The buzz before the swearing-in was that Champai will become deputy CM.

Woman bites Customs officer to evade check

Mumbai: A woman passenger, Dhanalakshmi Shanmugam (47), who arrived from Muscat, caused a commotion at the Mumbai International Airport on Sunday, when she bit the little finger of 59-year-old Customs official Shashikant Sable, in an attempt to snatch a suspicious egg-shaped object wrapped in black tape that was seized from her bag, reports V Narayan.

The material emitted a strong odour, and after grabbing it from Sable’s hands, Shanmugam ran into the toilet and flushed it before she was apprehended by Sable with the assistance of housekeeping staff. Sahar police arrested Shanmugam under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for causing hurt and assaulting a public servant to deter them from their duty.

Shanmugam was handed over to the Sahar police by the Customs officials and was arrested on Sunday. “Shanmugam is in police custody for two days, but she is not cooperating with the probe. She claimed she can communicate only in Tamil and doesn’t know another language. The team is trying to get details about the material she was carrying,” said a police officer of the Sahar police station.

Rape accused opens fire at survivor, her family, later kills self

Kanpur: A man accused of gang rape and released on bail barged into the 18-year-old survivor’s house and opened fire at her, her parents and two sisters. While her mother died on the spot, the others have been referred to hospital, reports Faiz Siddiqui. The accused, Anurag Pal, 22, shot himself barely 100 metres from the survivor’s house.

Denied free chips, duo kills 3-year-old

A three-year old boy was murdered by two men in Bihar’s Bhojpur district after the child’s maternal uncle, who owns a grocery shop, refused to give the duo free chips, reports Praveen. Prime accused Ghutur alias Dharmendra Pandey, 25, was arrested while the other, Munna Tatwa, was on the run, police said. The toddler, Karan, was from Brahmpur village in Buxar district and had come to Sondhi village on July 5 (Friday) to attend a family event. His body was found in a water-filled pit in the village on Monday morning.

Pune CID constable dies in hit-&-run

A constable, attached to CID of Pune police, died after his scooter was hit by an unidentified vehicle near PK Chowk at Pimple Saudagar on Sunday night. Sachin Mane, 46, was returning home after visiting his father, who was undergoing treatment in a hospital, when the accident occurred, senior inspector at Sangvi police station, Mahesh Bansode, told TOI. “We have registered a case against the unknown vehicle driver,” he said. Preliminary probe revealed that the victim fell off his scooter after being knocked down and sustained injuries to his head and face.

TNN

Maoist gunned down in MP

Hawk Force in MP gunned down a naxalite Sohan, 30, in an encounter in Kothiyatola forest of Balaghat on Monday. He was carrying a reward of Rs 14 lakh on his head. Sohan, of Sukma in Chhattisgarh, was a skilled IED maker and a prominent figure within the Naxal movement.

TNN

Flyer from Thailand held with 402 iguanas at Chennai airport

Customs officers at Chennai airport arrested a man with 402 iguanas, a protected species under Wildlife (Protection) Act and DGFT Import Policy, which he was smuggling from Thailand.

TNN

PM expected to seek Indians’ release from Russian army

‘Looking Forward To Reviewing Ties With Friend Putin’

PM Modi was received by Russia’s first deputy PM Denis Manturov, who Indian officials said is senior to the deputy PM who received Chinese Prez Xi during his visit to Moscow

 Continued from P 1

Ahead of leaving for Moscow, PM Modi said he’s looking forward to sharing perspectives on various regional and global issues; and that India seeks to play a supportive role for a peaceful and stable region. Like China, India never explicitly condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

While backing dialogue and diplomacy for enduring peace, India has also maintained that any such process must involve both the parties. The last annual summit took place in 2021 when Putin visited India. The two did meet though on the margins of the SCO summit in Samarkand in 2022, where Modi famously told Putin this isn’t the era of war. He’s expected to convey a similar message on this occasion too, in line with India’s emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy as the only realistic way of resolving the conflict.

Modi will co-chair the summit on Tuesday with Putin and also interact with the members of In- dian community in Moscow. In his meeting with Putin, Modi is expected to also seek the release of Indian men fighting for the Russian army in the Ukraine war. Putin hosted Modi at his private residence in Novo-Ogaryovo, a Moscow suburb.

“The Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia has advanced over the past 10 years, including in the areas of energy, security, trade, investment, health, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges,” said Modi, adding he’s looking forward to reviewing all aspects of bilateral cooperation with his “friend” Putin.

In a post on X, Modi also said stronger ties between our nations will greatly benefit people of both countries. The PM, who is visiting Russia for the first time in five years, was received by first deputy PM of Russia, Denis Manturov. Indian officials said Manturov is senior to the deputy PM who received Chinese President during his visit to Russia. Manturov also accompanied Modi to the hotel from the airport in the same car.

About his visit to Austria starting late on Tuesday, the first by an Indian PM in 41 years, Modi said he’s looking forward to discussions to take the partnership to even greater heights in new and emerging areas of innovation, technology and sustainable development among others.

Have shut 886 mines over violations, says Telangana official

Continued from P 1

The ongoing crackdown in the southern state is based on a scientific survey of mining zones ordered by CM A Revanth Reddy, who oversees the department, to ascertain the quantum of minerals mined in a particular area and match that with the seigniorage fees paid to the govt by lease-holders. Besides lessees exceeding their operational limits, instances of mining by unlicensed operators were found in Nirmal and Kamareddy districts.

Telangana has 2,681 mining lessees, 122 of them large operators, for a total leased area of 69,368 hectares.

An official said that this was just the beginning of the drive to make up for losses to the exchequer over the years.

“A survey of lease bounda- ries in this part of erstwhile undivided Andhra Pradesh is being done for the first time in four decades. We have completed a survey in 422 mines. The rest will be covered in a few weeks.” Officials said 886 mines had been shut because of violations.

SC: Riders can’t be so severe as to frustrate bail order itself

‘Can’t Let Probe Agencies Constantly Peep Into Accused’s Private Life’

While imposing bail conditions, constitutional rights of an accused can be curtailed only to the minimum extent required, SC said

Continued from P 1

Courts must show restraint while imposing bail conditions. Therefore, while granting bail, courts can curtail the freedom of the accused only to the extent required for imposing the bail conditions warranted by law. Bail conditions cannot be so onerous as to frustrate the order of bail itself. For example, the court may impose a condition of periodically reporting to the police station/ court or not travelling abroad without prior permission, the SC bench said.

Where circumstances require, the court may impose a condition restraining an accused from entering a particular area to protect the prosecution witnesses or the victims, the Supreme Court bench added.

“But the court cannot impose a condition on the accused to keep the police constantly informed about his movement from one place to another. The object of the bail condition cannot be to keep a constant vigil on the movements of the accused enlarged on bail,” it said.

“The investigating agency cannot be permitted to continuously peep into the private life of the accused enlarged on bail, by imposing arbitrary conditions since that will violate the right of privacy of the accused, as guaranteed by Article 21,” it added.

The bench also held that a bail condition could not be imposed on a foreign national to get a certificate from the embassy that he shall not leave the country and shall appear before the special court as and when required.

The bench noted that the object of imposing conditions of bail was to ensure that the accused did not interfere with or obstruct the investigation, remained available for the probe, did not tamper with or destroy evidence, remained regular- ly present for the trial and did not create obstacles in trial proceedings.

“While imposing bail conditions, constitutional rights of an accused, who is ordered to be released on bail, can be curtailed only to the minimum extent required. Even an accused convicted by a competent court and undergoing a sentence in prison is not deprived of rights to life and privacy guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution,” the bench said.

It said presumption of innocence was applicable with the accused and he could not be deprived of all his rights guaranteed under the Constitution.

Taking note of Google’s reply in this case, the court said the PIN location did not enable real-time tracking of the user or the user’s device. “Therefore, the condition of the accused dropping a pin on Google Maps, as it stands, is completely redundant as the same does not help,” it said.

‘Pinned by her saree, woman dangled between bumper & wheels for 1.5km’

 Continued from P 1

Police sources said footage from CCTV cameras showed Mihir was driving the car when it knocked down a couple on a scooter at Worli on Sunday, killing Kaveri Nakhwa and injuring her husband, Pradip.

As the couple landed on the car bonnet, Mihir slammed the brakes, resulting in the husband falling off. “But the woman’s saree got hooked to the car and she was dragged more than 1.5km,” the source said, adding that the woman was somehow dangling between the bumper and a front wheel.

Police sources said that the court was told that CCTV footage showed Mihir stop- ped the car after reaching the Worli-end of the sea link. He and Bidawat pulled the woman away and placed her by the street. Then they got in and swapped seats. The chauffeur then backed up a bit before revving up again. “But for some reason, the vehicle ran over the woman lying on the road,” said the police source.

Mihir then called up his father to inform him about the accident, another source said, adding that the neta “instructed him to escape”.

At Kala Nagar, Bandra (east), the car developed a technical problem. Mihir fled in an auto rickshaw while the chauffeur stood beside the vehicle. The plan was to call for a towing van and take the car away. They had also removed the number plate, said police.

Mihir had called up a friend who has a vehicle repair shop and told him there was some problem with the car, police said. This friend was asked to come to Bandra. When the police reached the spot, they found the chauffeur next to the BMW. After some time, the neta reached there. Later, Mihir’s friend also came to the spot. The police took all three to Worli police station where the friend’s statement was recorded.

More than 36 hours after the accident, the neta’s son, who had visited a pub in Juhu hours before the accident, remained untraced Monday evening. The neta’s son and his friends had run up a bill of over Rs 18,000 Saturday night.

Three other friends of Mihir, who were seen in CCTV footage leaving the Juhu pub, were also questioned. The pub employees were interrogated to know if Mihir had consumed alcohol. Police are questioning several of Mihir’s friends whom he called up after the accident.

A police team also visited the Shah family home at Vadrai, Palghar at Mahim locality. The neta’s party office in Palghar remained closed on Monday. The neta’s wife and daughters are also not at home. Police have formed 14 teams to trace Mihir. Crime branch office are also on the lookout for him.

7 personnel killed in terror attacks in 3 days in J&K

Sanjay Khajuria TNN

Jammu:Monday’s ambush on an Army truck in Badnota village of Kathua, in which five security personnel lost their lives, brought the number of personnel killed in terrorist attacks to seven in three days in J&K.

In separate operations in south Kashmir’s Kulgam on Saturday Lance Naik Pradeep Nain of Army’s Para Commando unit and Sepoy Pravin Janjal of 1 Rashtriya Rifles had lost their lives.

Meanwhile, J&K DGP R R Swain is overseeing the operation to hunt down terrorists involved in Monday’s ambush in area adjoining Basantgarh in Udhampur where a village defense guard was killed on April 28.

Jammu has been tense since the June 9 ambush on a bus in Reasi that resulted in deaths of seven pilgrims, their bus driver and conductor. Sub- sequent attacks on June 11, 12, and 26 led to deaths of a CRPF constable and five suspected Pakistani terrorists in Kathua and Doda. A soldier was also wounded in a terrorist firing near a military camp in Manjakot of Rajouri Sunday morning.

According to sources, the recent spike in violence is largely attributed to the mysterious killing of 21 Kashmiri terrorists in POK and Pakistan, along with the assassination of retired Pakistan Army Brigadier and key ISI operative Amir Hamza.

Hamza, linked to the 2018 attack on Sunjwan military camp in J&K, and the Kashmiri terrorists were killed by unknown gunmen. Sources said ISI officers have been tasked with avenging these attacks, with Lashkar-e-Taiba top operative Saifullah Sajad Jatta, who heads its shadow group The Resistance Force, assigned this mission.

Diversion of SC/ST funds for Cong’s K’taka pledges ‘injustice’: BJP

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: BJP continued to mount pressure on Karnataka govt over the alleged diversion of SC/ST funds for ‘five guarantees’ Congress had promised in the run-up to the 2023 assembly polls. BJP on Monday dubbed this as a “startling reality” of the state economy and an “injustice” being meted out to Dalit and tribal communities.

“Congress robbing the underprivileged from Dalit and tribal communities for their unrealistic political agenda is leading to a toll on the state economy and welfare of the weaker sections. [This is] A startling reality about the state of Karnataka economy,” said BJP’s chief spokesperson and Lok Sabha MP from Garhwal, Anil Baluni.

Determined to roll out the guarantees especially with LS polls less than a year away, but facing a funds crunch, Karnataka govt is said to have diverted some Rs 11,000 crore of the Rs 34,294 crore SCSP and TSP kitty to the guarantee schemes including Gruha Jyothi, Shakthi, Anna Bhagya and Gruha Lakshmi.

BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying, “Congress is anti-Dalit and anti-tribal.”

After principal opposition BJP raised a ruckus over the issue, Congress’ own allies from SC and ST communities and Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS) are allegedly irked over the govt’s decision to divert SCSP and TSP funds for its guarantee schemes.

The decision to cull Rs 11,000 crore from SCSP and TSP allocations was taken on July 31 at a meeting chaired by CM Siddaramaiah and attended by social welfare minister HC Madadevappa. Govt justified the decision saying the guarantees also cover members of SC and ST communities and that it would cover the cost of the schemes for SC and ST beneficiaries.

Earlier, the Karnataka BJP unit had accused the Siddaramaiah-led Congress govt of utilising Rs 14,800-crore funds meant for the five guarantees.

Times City

- DU student ‘abducted’ from near NE Delhi home, killed in Baghpat

- 6 shunted in major overhaul of Delhi Police Special Cell

- Soumya Case: SC Notice To 4 On Cops’ Appeal Against Bail

- ‘Effective steps not taken to demarcate Yamuna floodplain’

- Woman (84) with Parkinson’s waits for three hours for wheelchair after arriving at airport

- Garbage blocks half of Ggn-Fbd highway

- Car Stolen? Why Chances Are Brighter Of Your Hot Wheels Getting Restored To You

- Tables turned: Complainant gets life term in murder case

- Unified portal to grant licences for amusement activities in city

- Trial in ‘Wild West’ shows a big drop in motor vehicle thefts

- Conspiracy to ruin ‘education revolution’ in city, says Atishi

- Hungry at night? You can soon head to 24x7 eatery at nearby metro stn

- Hope brews here! 10 neurodiverse individuals to run this cafe at HC

- HC refuses to allow 30-yr-old head injury victim’s petition to undergo passive euthanasia

- Cops write to X in Mahua case:

- HC reserves order on Bibhav’s plea

- Cops arrest three for murder near Old Delhi Rly Stn

- Man arrested for videotaping 15-year-old girl

- Man gets 10 yrs’ jail for rape of 15-yr-old in 2021

- Ego Trip: `18L Between 0001 & 0002

- Court asks forest dept to find out how many trees still concretised

- LG had visited illegal tree cutting site: DDA to SC

- Teacher-student ratio in Delhi among worst in country: BJP

- Students question NTA’s CUET-UG answer keys

- Clip shows man mowed down by tanker on flooded road

- NDMC launches plan to boost drain infra

- 3 of Gzb family die in Jaipur highway crash

- Bharadwaj reviews readiness of govt hospitals to tackle dengue

- Wait Gets Longer For 4 Key Hosp Projects

- Shots fired in Jahangirpuri

- Inspect city’s nursing homes for fire-safety compliance, says HC

- Court to hear Kavitha’s default bail plea this wk

- Man held for murder of partner’s son

- SC To Hear CBI Plea Against Acquittal Of Nithari Convict

- Tihar told to reply on CM plea for more virtual meets

- Lost because of internal bickering: Raj

- MCD reduces illegal waste dumping points

- From drizzle to downpour, city caught in rain roulette

DU student ‘abducted’ from near NE Delhi home, killed in Baghpat

CRUEL END: Himanshu Sharma

Abhay & Sandeep Rai TNN

Meerut/New Delhi: A second-year BA student of Delhi University’s School of Open Learning was allegedly abducted from near his home in northeast Delhi, taken to Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh and beaten to death on Saturday. The family accused of killing the boy, Himanshu Sharma, claimed he had raped their 19-year-old daughter and had been blackmailing her. The boy’s mother refuted the charges. Poli- ce have filed an FIR against seven people.

The mother of the 20-yearold boy, Rajni Sharma, said, “The allegations are a lie. There was no woman involved.” His uncle, Anil Kumar Sharma, added, “Himanshu received a call from the girl’s phone on Saturday. Once he left home, four to five members of the girl’s family abducted him to Baghpat and killed him.”

While Baghpat Kotwali circle officer Harish Bhadauria confirmed the arrest of two persons in the case, NP Singh, additional superintendent of police, Baghpat, said, “In her complaint, the girl’s mother claimed her daughter was being blackmailed by Himanshu after he had raped her. The girl confided in her brother, who stays in a village in Baghpat. The brother and some relatives reached Delhi, lured the youth with a message from the woman’s phone, abducted him and brought him to Baghpat. They intended to teach him a lesson, but the be- ating went too far.”

The FIR accessed by TOI lists seven members of the girl’s family, including her mother. They have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s sections 140 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder or for ransom etc), 103(1) (murder).

For the past 12 years, Rajni had been raising her two children, Himanshu and his younger sister, on her own after her husband abandoned the family. She runs a small grocery shop and stitches clothes to make ends meet in northeast Delhi's New Usmanpur.

Himanshu’s mother claimed that feeling a sense of unease around 5pm on Saturday, after her son had left home after being “invited to a birthday party”, she called Himanshu, only to find his phone switched off. "I waited for him until around 10pm and then alerted my relatives about my missing son,” said Rajni. “Around 10.30pm, a woman who lives in our area and whose son had phoned Himanshu called me to her house.”

There, Rajni claimed, the woman told her that her son had been kidnapped. The woman also made a video call to people she knew in which they showed Himanshu in their custody and said they would kill him.

"We knew the woman well since she often came to our house," said Rajni. "The woman told me that if I wanted to see my son again, I should accompany her."

The woman took Rajni to a forest in Baghpat. “We saw a car bearing Delhi number plate there,” Rajni claimed.

“My son was in the car with blood spattered everywhere." She was preparing to take her son to hospital when a police control room van arrived and nabbed two of the accused.

Asked whether Himanshu was in a relationship with the girl as alleged by the accused, the Sharma family insisted they weren’t aware of such a thing. A weeping Rajni said, "Our dreams have been crushed. If they had problems, why didn’t they speak to me first? Did they have to kill him?"

6 shunted in major overhaul of Delhi Police Special Cell

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: In a major shakeup in Delhi Police Special Cell’s New Delhi Range (NDR), which primarily deals with terror cases, the police brass has transferred six key inspectors and posted them to nonoperational units.

Last week’s move is being seen as the first step to the major changes that the ‘elite unit’ is expected to undergo in the coming months. There is a chance that the unit may be also renamed as Delhi ATS (antiterror squad), like Mumbai, UP and other places, and could also be downsized, said a source. According to the source, the inspectors’ transfer order comes ahead of the exit of the main ACP dealing with terror cases who is set to retire next month. “The head of the unit (of the rank of special commissioner) retires three months later, and this leaves only the existing additional commissioner behind, who may soon be transferred out of Delhi,” the source added.

Currently, the Special Cell is being managed by DCPs Manishi Chandra, who is also the secretary to police commissioner Sanjay Arora, and Pratiksha Godara, who was posted in Haryana Police till some time ago. She had taken a transfer from AGMUT to Haryana cadre and was made the anti-terror unit DCP upon return. She is expected to be promoted to additional CP by Jan 2025.

The latest transfer orders, issued with concurrence of Chandra and Godara, include Rajeev Srivastava, Shiv Raj Rawat, Arvind Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Rakesh Singh Rana and Vinod Kumar.

Officials said the ACP of counter intelligence unit (CIU) Rahul Vikram and his inspectors are going to be placed in New Delhi Range after next month. Vikram has been asked to start visiting the NDR office in Lodhi Colony to gain “exposure” and be groomed.

Chandra is also likely to bring back some of the inspectors he had transferred out ago. Many from that list were made SHOs and are looking at are-entry into the cell, sources said. The exercise will be completed before the retirement of commissioner Arora next July.

When contacted, senior cops said the transfers were routine. “Their replacements will be provided soon. The unit is handling a lot of drug related cases of late and requires more manpower,” a police officer said.

The Special cell was formed in the late 1980s to combat terrorism in the national capital. The unit was credited with solving the 2001 Parliament attack case within 36 hours. It had also wiped off the Indian Mujahideen modules that were behind the serial blasts in Delhi and other parts of the country.

Soumya Case: SC Notice To 4 On Cops’ Appeal Against Bail

2008 MURDER:HC Had Suspended Their Life Term

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the four convicts in the murder of journalist Soumya Vishwanathan in 2008 following Delhi Police’s appeal challenging Delhi High Court's order suspending the life sentences and granting interim bail to the four men.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma issued notice on the four pleas filed by Delhi Police and tagged them with the pending petition of Vishwanathan's mother against the bail granted to the four convicts.

Vishwanathan was shot dead while driving home from work on South Delhi's Nelson Mandela Marg in Sept 2008.

More than 15 years after Vishwanathan was killed, a Delhi court on Nov 25, 2023, awarded life terms to the four accused under Section 302 (murder) of IPC and Section 3(1)(i) (committing organised crime resulting in the death of any person) of MCOCA.

On Feb 12, three months after the four convicts were given life sentences, Delhi High Court suspended their sentences and granted them bail pending the appeals challenging their conviction and sentences.

‘Effective steps not taken to demarcate Yamuna floodplain’

NGT SAYS They (Delhi govt and DDA) are directed to disclose the timeline on the affidavit of the competent authority for completing the work of demarcation of the floodplain zone of Yamuna, as well as modalities that will be adopted for the same

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: National Green Tribunal has observed that effective steps have not yet been taken to demarcate Yamuna's floodplain zone in accordance with the provisions of its 2016 order. The tribunal has asked Delhi govt and DDA to file a report with a timeline for the demarcation of the floodplains.

Last year, NGT took suo motu cognizance of a TOI report titled “Why flooding has forced DDA’s master plan rethink”. The original application raised the issue of the demarcation of the floodplain zone of the Yamuna within Delhi. A stretch of 22 km is in the urban area from Wazirabad to Okhla Barrage, and the full stretch of 56 km is from Palla to Jaitpur.

The tribunal observed that a status report on behalf of Delhi govt by the special secretary of the environment department stated that an exercise was undertaken to define the floodplains of the Yamuna in the stretch under consideration, taking into account the highest flood level to be once in 25 years.

However, it also noted that in terms of clause 3 (l) of the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection, and Management) Authorities Order, 2016, the floodplain of the river Ganga or its tributaries is required to be defined corresponding to its greatest flow or to a flood frequency of once in 100 years.

“Neelima Soni, director, DDA, present in person, has informed that payment for the work of defining the floodplain has not been made to the Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune, till now, and work has not been started,” observed NGT.

It added, “From Delhi's reply, it cannot be ascertained that any effective step has been taken till now.”

Granting eight weeks’ time to Delhi govt and DDA, NGT said the fresh reports should disclose the steps taken for the demarcation of the floodplain zone in terms of clause 3 (l) of the 2016 order.

“They are directed to disclose the timeline on the affidavit of the competent authority for completing the work of demarcation of the floodplain zone of the Yamuna, as well as the modalities which will be adopted for the same,” said a bench headed by Justice Prakash Shrivastava.

Woman (84) with Parkinson’s waits for three hours for wheelchair after arriving at airport

The airline said it was in touch with family members of the woman, who was travelling with her son, and had already ‘apologised’ for the incident

Mumbai: An 84-year-old Parkinson’s disease-affected woman had to wait for over three hours for a wheelchair at the tarmac of the Delhi airport after her arrival from Jaipur on an Alliance Air flight on Sunday, an incident which the airline said was being investigated.

The govt-owned airline also said it was in touch with family members of the woman passenger, who was travelling with her son, and had already “apologised” to her for the incident.

Separately, Alliance Air is taking up the matter with AI-SATS, who is also the ground handling services operator for Air India at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

“There was some mess up... We are looking at the incident from several angles. Besides, we are taking up the matter with the ground handling agency AI-SATS, which was supposed to provide wheelchair to the passenger,” Alliance Air assistant general manager for customer care services, Manohar Tufchi told PTI.

Tufchi said he had spoken over phone to her son and had already “apologised” for the incident and that they were “in touch with the customer.”

According to a post on microblogging site X, after the flight landed at the airport at 9.22 pm and came to the parking bay, the woman passenger asked for a wheelchair to board the coach and the aircraft staff told her that it was being brought.

“However, within 15-20 minutes, all the passengers got deplaned and she still kept waiting for it. When the aircraft air-conditioning system was also switched off and the cabin became hot, her son brought her down from the plane somehow. But by this time, both the aircraft staff and passengers' coach had left from the run- way,” the post said.

“Her son also sought the help of the ground staff to get the wheelchair for his mother, who was stranded at the tarmac but even they could not help him. He found his mother's wheelchair near the cargo door of the aircraft and finally made her sit on it."

The post has been tagged to minister for civil aviation K Rammohan Naidu, PMO and Airports Authority of India as well.

The post further said that incidentally a car carrying the pilot and co-pilot of the same flight happened to come there for some work and after much pleading they agreed to take her in their car to the arrival terminal.

PTI

Garbage blocks half of Ggn-Fbd highway

SPILLING OVER

Vishakha.Chaman@timesofindia.com

Gurgaon: The city’s garbage spill has annexed new territory — a portion of the Gurgaon-Faridabad road that cuts through the Aravalis.

Overflowing waste from the Bandhwari landfill, ironically the site that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) wanted cleared and for which it slapped Rs 100 crore as environment compensation on the state govt, disrupted city-bound traffic from Faridabad on Monday. A long line of garbage-laden trucks waiting to enter the landfill added to the problem, holding up motorists behind them.

The city has been living through a garbage disposal crisis for several months now. Last month, Haryana govt declared a ‘solid waste exigency’ in Gurgaon and formed a committee to resolve the crisis.

“Agencies and authorities have been dumping waste, claiming that it is inert, in the Aravalis and surrounding villages. Waste is now openly spilling onto the Gurgaon Faridabad road, and no govt agency is being held accountable for it,” Jitender Bhadana, an environmentalist and resident of Pali village near Bandhwari, said.

Asked about the problem, MCG commissioner Narhari Singh Banger denied that the waste was overflowing from the landfill site. He said the corporation was already dealing with a “significant challenge of space constraint at Bandhwari, and he has directed officials to ensure “waste scattered outside the landfill is cleared”.

TIMES Special

Car Stolen? Why Chances Are Brighter Of Your Hot Wheels Getting Restored To You

In Just A Week, 200+ FIRs Filed Under BNS; IOs Must Visit Spot And Film It

Raj Shekhar Jha & Abhay TNN

New Delhi: Delhi Police registered over 200 FIRs in the past one week under the new section in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which is dedicated to dealing with vehicle thefts. With punishment for the crime enhanced to seven years, the investigating officers (IOs) are visiting the spot immediately after the theft is reported, filming the crime scene and uploading their reports on the police’s app, e-pramaan.

Unlike earlier, the crime seems to be getting some priority now. Cops are hopeful that the shake-up is likely to bring down vehicle theft figures in the near future.

TOI had reported last week how cops would start lodging vehicle theft FIRs under section 305-B of BNS.

Vehicle theft came under the crime ‘theft’ in the erstwhile Indian Penal Code and was dealt with under Section 379, which had a punishment of three years. A few years ago, the police launched an app to register vehicle theft cases as e-FIRs. This enabled people to get their untraced report in about 30 days and claim insurance. However, the arrangement virtually stopped any immediate probe into individual cases and led to the numbers skyrocketing.

With the new laws coming into effect, the cops are now visiting the spot immediately on receiving the information about a vehicle theft and filming the crime scene as mandated. While the case is registered as an e-FIR in the crime branch, the SHO is assigning IOs at the police station level. This is expected to give results on the ground soon, according to cops.

Even after the rollout of the new laws, some vehicle theft FIRs were registered under Sec- tion 303, which defines theft. However, this was soon changed, and now such cases are being lodged under Section 305-B, officials confirmed.

Each district has filed around 12-15 FIRs in the past one week, according to sources. The data shows that from July 1 to July 7, following the implementation of the new law, a total of 113 cases were registered in the three districts of North East, East and Shahdara. In contrast, West district reported 17 cases, Southwest 16, South 13, Outer North 13 while North registered eight. Over 50 cases were reported by other districts in the city.

An officer said that videography is mandatory not only for the spot but also during search of the suspect and seizure of the vehicle.

“The police team will videograph the entire procedure of checking the vehicle and the driver. This ensures that the accused does claim that the evidence was planted or tampered with. We have conducted multiple training sessions for the cops, especially those deployed at pickets during night hours, on videography,” the officer added.

Vehicle thefts in Delhi have seen a drastic rise in the past decade — from 14,000 in 2011, the figures grew over threefold by 2019, touching 46,000. In 2020-22, they stood at about 37,000, and have remained almost the same thereafter.

TIMESVIEW: The success of the scheme underlines that detailed planning and concerted efforts help in reducing street crime and improve a colony’s safety quotient. The scheme should be expanded to vehicle theft hotspots in other districts of the capital.

Tables turned: Complainant gets life term in murder case

Bagish.Jha@timesofindia.com

Gurgaon: A man who had reported his neighbour’s murder to police three years ago was found to have actually killed him during trial at a Panipat court, which sentenced him to life imprisonment.

On April 26, 2021, Pintu had approached cops, claiming he had seen some 4-5 men killing his neighbour Rana with knives and a screwdriver the previous night. Rana’s body was found by the railway tracks in Panipat.

As hearings started in court, the testimonies of two friends, who had actually seen the murder, turned the tide against Pintu. This Saturday, sessions judge Sudesh Kumar Sharma found him guilty of Rana’s murder and sent him to prison for life.

Assistant public prosecutor Rahul Arora said Pintu suspected Rana of having “an evil eye on his wife” and planned to kill him. On the night of April 25 three years ago, Pintu persuaded Rana to accompany him to a deserted ground near the railway tracks and attacked him with a knife. He succumbed to injuries before he was wheeled into a hospital.

Pintu then walked into Old Industrial police station of Panipat the next day and reported Rana’s murder. An FIR was registered under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC and provisions of the Arms Act against unknown persons.

“After the murder, Pintu called up Rana’s brother and took him to a general hospital in Panipat, where he was declared dead on arrival. He lodged the complaint to mislead police, saying he had seen 4-5 men killing Rana with knives and a screwdriver,” said Arora.

During trial, the prosecution presented two witnesses whose statements lifted the veil off the mystery. Vicky and Sagar told the court they had accompanied Rana on the night of April 25 and even suffered injuries trying to stop the attack on him. Pintu was arrested on May 1, 2021.

As the case turned on its head, Dinesh Garg — who represented Pintu in court — argued that the two witnesses were not independent but Rana’s friends and that their version could be motivated.

The court, however, relied on the statements and medical evidence to convict Pintu. It also referred to several relevant legal precedents that focused on the “integrity of direct evidence”.

On Thursday, judge Sharma found Pintu guilty in a verdict that was based on “substantiated evidence, corroborated by forensic findings and corroborative witness testimonies”. Pintu was handed the life term and fined Rs 25,000 as well.

Unified portal to grant licences for amusement activities in city

The portal has been developed by the licensing unit of Delhi Police, in collaboration with Municipal Corporation of Delhi and National Informatics Centre

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Monday launched a unified portal for amusement activities, which is likely to overhaul, simplify and unify the licensing process for venues, including amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours, in Delhi.

The portal has been developed by the licensing unit of Delhi Police, in collaboration with Municipal Corporation of Delhi and National Informatics Centre. Officials said it was a transformative platform aimed at enhancing the efficiency of licensing processes across the capital.

“This initiative builds upon the success of the modified unified portal for licensing of eating and lodging establishments, previously launched by the LG in 2023, to now encompass performances at licensed and unlicensed premises, amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours,” the LG office said in a statement.

Officials said the unified portal would streamline the application process, significantly reducing paperwork and simplifying submission requirements. By integrating various regulatory authorities such as municipal bodies, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Police onto a single platform, the portal will offer a seamless coordination and realtime processing of applications, they claimed.

The applications can be filled up online now from anywhere and it will go simultaneously to all the agencies concerned for efficient processing, an official explained. Automated updates and notifications to applicants on their application status, easy correction of deficiencies online on a real-time basis, transparent and streamlined approval process ensuring prompt statutory clearances are some other features that represent a significant step towards enhancing ease-of-doing-business in the amusement sec- tor, supporting Delhi’s vibrant entertainment industry, the official added.

Speaking on the occasion, LG said that “transformative strides” had been made in rationalising, demystifying and easing the regulation and licensing procedures and processes during the last two years. The launch of a unified portal for eating and lodging establishments, enhanced timings for bars and restaurants, open air dining and permission to establishments to operate on a 24x7 basis are other such initiatives.

“By embracing technology, we have today launched this unified portal for amusement activities, which will overhaul, simplify and unify the licensing process for venues, including amusement parks, auditoriums and video game parlours,” he added.

To rationalise and ease statutory requirements for events, the ministry of home affairs had last year notified regulations for Licencing of Places of Public Amusement and Public Amusement Performances (other than cinema), 2023, which had done away with the requirement of obtaining ‘certification of suitability’ before the event. This ensured that artistes, poets and comedians performing in public did not have to get their scripts vetted by police before the event in the capital.

“This provision was not only archaic but was akin to censoring. The entire chapter on certificate of suitability has been removed from the regulations,” said an official.

Trial in ‘Wild West’ shows a big drop in motor vehicle thefts

Devanshi.Mehta@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Detecting motor vehicle (MV) theft in the city has long been seen as a challenge by many in the police force. However, West Delhi district has shown the way with an initiative that has resulted in a significant decline in MV theft, according to cops.

Police attributed the decrease in numbers to a range of factors, such as partnership with citizens and using data analytics to methodically crack down on auto-lifters.

DCP (West) Vichitra Veer said seven beats in areas like Hari Nagar, Rajouri Garden, Punjabi Bagh and Tilak Nagar were selected for implementation of the experiment.

“The exercise involved extensive on-ground and door-to-door campaigning, wherein cops visited several neighbourhoods and spoke to over 5,500 citizens. The basic idea was to associate the public, praharis (security guards) and police to put area-centric security and patrolling mechanisms in place,” he added.

The cops first analysed trends, such as timing and hotspots of vehicle thefts. On the basis of the data, police initiated preventive patrolling with the help of the public and praharies. As part of the experiment, the community policing team also sensitised the public about precautionary and preventive steps to be taken to curb MV theft.

“During foot patrolling, announcements were made and residents were advised to park their vehicles inside if a parking lot was available. They were also asked to use security gadgets,” said additional DCP Raja Banthia, who launched the pilot project in Nov last year.

Cops also surveyed exit/entry points and colony gates in the areas and accordingly decided the routes and timings of bike patrols. Cases and PCR calls were analysed daily.

Through public meetings, people were educated about making small changes, like checking the lock of the vehicle before leaving and using tyre locks and ignition locks.

The efforts seem to have paid off, as figures for the first six months of 2024 saw a downward trend compared to last year. While 2,217 cases were reported between Jan and June in 2023, this year, the number dropped to 1,846 in the corresponding period, a decline of 17%, the DCP said.

Conspiracy to ruin ‘education revolution’ in city, says Atishi

New Delhi: Delhi education minister Atishi on Monday alleged that the orders to transfer 5,000 teachers were issued at the behest of BJP which could not digest the transformation of state-run schools.

Addressing a press conference, Atishi alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to transfer teachers to ruin the “education revolution” in the capital. “Our dispensation in Delhi has transformed govt schools in the last 10 years. The results of students here have set records,” she claimed.

No reaction was available from BJP.

Acting on the orders of LG VK Saxena, Delhi govt on Monday directed that the transfer of 5,000 school teachers, who were posted in the same school for more than 10 years, be kept in abeyance.

The education minister congratulated the people after the transfer orders were kept in abeyance. “Today Delhi’s teachers and Delhiites have won,” Atishi said.

In an official order, the education department said it had received several representations in the matter of the recent transfer orders issued by the directorate of education, pertaining to teachers who have continued for more than 10 years in the same school.

“After going through the representations and listening to the delegations, the competent authority has decided to constitute an appropriate committee, comprising representatives of all stakeholders and experts, so as to take a holistic, sympathetic and fair view in the matter,” it said.

“Therefore, till further orders, the transfer orders of teachers issued on July 2 are kept in abeyance. Postings of all such teachers are restored as on July 1,” it added.

TNN

Hungry at night? You can soon head to 24x7 eatery at nearby metro stn

GET YOUR FILL, ANY TIME!

Atul Mathur & Amin Ali TNN

New Delhi: You may soon find a number of high-end eating joints operational round-the-clock at your nearest metro station or a bus terminal. To promote Delhi’s nightlife, govt agencies have started giving licences to restaurants and food chains to remain open 24x7. These restaurants will operate at transport hubs and starred hotels in the city.

According to officials, the decision to grant licences to eateries to run round the clock at five and four-star hotels, and within the airport, railway stations, metro stations and ISBT premises after payment of an additional fee was taken last year at the initiation of LG VK Saxena. Some of them will even serve liquor but the bar would close at 1am, the time fixed by the excise department. Food, however, will remain available 24x7.

Sources said a number of applications were received and the process to grant licences has started. The number of documents required for getting the licences has also been reduced drastically to ensure ease of doing business. Officials added that 140 fields have been removed from the common application form, making it user friendly and the 21-page form has been reduced to just nine.

Instead of multiple separate affidavits now, a single common undertaking has been introduced. Instead of the earlier system of granting licence for just one year, the validity period has been increased to three years for MCD, Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Service approval and nine years for DPCC.

Sources added that the granting of licence has been made time-bound, with a “deemed approved” clause being introduced to ensure the application is disposed of within a time frame.

“These are far reaching changes that will give a much-needed boost to the ‘night-time economy’, will ensure more employment and economic activity in the city and ensure that entrepreneurs who are losing business to NCR due to an archaic and restrictive licencing regime, retain and augment their clientele and benefit financially,” a Raj Niwas official said.

Restaurateur Priyank Sukhija, who has outlets at Aerocity and has recently opened one at Epicuria at Nehru Place metro station, welcomed the decision and said the permission couldn’t have come at a better time.

Sukhija said that all the existing outlets and those expected to open soon in such areas will benefit from the decision and will make Delhi’s nightlife scene vibrant. “This is a positive decision for the city. It needs to be celebrated and highlighted so that diners get to know that they can dine till late in their neighbourhood. It will make dining out safer,” he said.

Restaurateur Akshay Anand, who has a new concept restaurant coming up at Nehru Place, explained that people in Delhi head out late due to late work hours. He says diners, moviegoers or travellers will have quality options open till late in their neighbourhood than having to drive far.

A restaurateur, however, added that the excise licences should also be included in this “Excise licences will mean added revenue for the city and safe drinking zones for residents,” he said.

TIMESVIEW: Some cities proudly say that they never go to sleep. Delhi cannot claim to be one of them. In the capital, eateries shut down late at night. That has been part of its eating out culture for decades. The concept of 24x7, therefore, is novel and exciting. But it is also challenging. The all-night eateries are likely to generate employment and help foster a new culture of eating out. But one must not forget that the night often brings out the worst in Delhi. Authorities should also provide a safe and secure environment for both the operators and the customers. The scheme’s success would depend on tackling this key aspect.

Hope brews here! 10 neurodiverse individuals to run this cafe at HC

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: Arunima Bhaduri (centre) with her colleagues

Vineet.Upadhyay@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Arunima Bhaduri is a dyspraxic or someone with a developmental coordination issue that affects movement and coordination. She has two master's degrees in history and tourism. Calling herself a “disciplined, hardworking and good”, the 34-year-old will start a new job this week, not in academia but as manager of a new café in Delhi High Court.

Senior advocate Ravi Gupta, the man behind the initiative of the high court in collaboration with NGO Shaurya Foundation Trust (SFT) and a famous restaurant chain of south India, described the café as “a transformative space dedicated to individuals with neurodiverse needs”.

Bhaduri herself was beside herself with joy. “I am really excited to start working there. It is a dream come true. I am looking forward to the opening of the café,” she said on Monday.

Gupta, chairman of SFT, said the café would empower around 10 neurodiverse individuals who will serve as cashiers, servers, managers, sales associates who will receive customer feedback and “silent roar” sales associates. These individuals have diffe- rent types of neurodiversity, including dyspraxia and autism.

These are roles tailored for non-verbal individuals using AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices to communicate and transact sales. An AAC device is a tablet or a laptop that assists neurodiverse individuals in communication using speech, pictures and other tools.

Prerna Gupta, 35, who is skilled in painting and mug designing, will man a counter at the cafe. Princey Rehman, 44, who is known as a “super salesman” among his colleagues, will manage sales operations, while Hardik Gupta, 22, a non-verbal young adult who is fond of cookies, will do likewise.

Gupta and his wife Rani have been dedicated to helping neurodivergent adults since 2002, after their adopted son, Shaurya, was diagnosed with autism. Their foundation, named after their son, has been working towards empowering neurodivergent people. SFT’s sensitisation and employment initiative also trains individuals as disability support workers (DSWs), equipping them to empower others with disabilities to reach their full potential as valued members of society, added Gupta.

Apart from serving palate-pleasing food items, the café will also showcase artefacts made by neurodiverse people at the “Roar Kiosk”. Collaborative artworks from Artopia, the art unit, artisanal baked goods from The Baker’s Den, the bakery unit, and delectable matthis will be on offer there. There will also be merchandise such as mugs, coasters, sippers, and magnets, designed by the digital unit, on the shop shelves. The kiosk also caters to sensory needs with designated break areas and flexible working hours tailored to optimise the performance of these individuals.

“More than being simply a workplace, this canteen embodies the assisted employment model, ensuring that abilities triumph over disabilities,” said senior advocate Mohit Mathur, president, Delhi High Court Bar Association. “This inclusive space marks a significant milestone for and presents a valuable opportunity for corporations and other sectors to embrace diversity, foster inclusivity, and create similar empowering environments.”

HC refuses to allow 30-yr-old head injury victim’s petition to undergo passive euthanasia

HIGH COURT SAYS While the court sympathises with the parents, as the petitioner is not terminally ill, this court cannot intervene and allow consideration of a prayer that is legally untenable

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has declined to allow a 30-year-old man's plea to undergo passive euthanasia. Due to head injuries suffered in 2013, the man is lying in a vegetative state and approached HC for his case to be referred to a medical board.

Taking note of the facts of the case, HC in a recent order noted that the man is not dependent on any life support mechanical systems to remain alive nor is he terminally ill.

“The petitioner is not on any life support system, and the petitioner is surviving without external aid. While the court sympathises with the parents, as the petitioner is not terminally ill, this court cannot intervene and allow consideration of a prayer that is legally untenable,” Justice Subramonium Prasad said, while also referring to Supreme Court judgments which held that active euthanasia is legally impermissible.

“The petitioner is thus living, and no one, including a physician, is permitted to cause the death of another person by administering any lethal drug, even if the objective is to relieve the patient of pain and suffering,” HC pointed out.

The court said it was not inclined to accept the request of the petitioner to refer him to a medical board to consider whether he could be allowed to undergo passive euthanasia and dismissed the petition.

Passive euthanasia refers to intentionally letting a patient die by withholding artificial life support such as a ventilator or feeding tube.

The petitioner was a student at Punjab University and suffered head injuries after falling from the fourth floor of his paying guest accommodation in 2013. The plea said his family had done their best to treat him, but he has been confined to a bed since 2013 due to diffuse axonal injury with a permanent vegetative state and 100% disability.

The plea said his family consulted various doctors but were informed that there was no scope for his recovery. The petitioner, who has not responded for the last 11 years, has developed deep and large bed sores that have caused further infection.

It said the petitioner’s family had lost all hope for his recovery and his parents were not able to take care of him as they were getting old.

Cops write to X in Mahua case:

Delhi Police has written to X in connection with TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s ‘deleted’ post that allegedly made derogatory remarks on NCW chief Rekha Sharma. A police officer said they were waiting for a response from X.

TNN

HC reserves order on Bibhav’s plea

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday reserved the order on a plea by Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Bibhav Kumar seeking direction to declare his arrest by Delhi Police as illegal.

The bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna after hearing both sides at length decided to reserve the order.

Bibhav, through his plea, also sought appropriate compensation for his alleged illegal arrest, in deliberate and blatant violation of the provisions of law. The departmental action must be initiated against the unknown erring officials, the plea stated.

ANI

Cops arrest three for murder near Old Delhi Rly Stn

New Delhi: Days after a man was shot dead near Old Delhi Railway Station, north district police has arrested three men in connection with the case. Police said that one of the accused claimed he had given Rs 2.5 lakh to the victim, which was not returned. This allegedly led to an argument between them and the subsequent murder. On the night of July 4, Gaurav Thakur, a 38-year-old resident of Shivaji Park, Punjabi Bagh, was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds. Chandarpal Bhati, Vinay Bhati, and Ombir Singh Bhati were found to have conspired in the murder due to a financial dispute, police said.

Chandarpal loaned Rs 2.5 lakh to Gaurav, which remained unpaid, leading to escalating tensions between them. In a planned attack on the evening of July 4, the trio lured Gaurav to the crime scene under the pretext of an alcohol party.

There, Ombir fatally shot Gaurav in the neck with a country-made pistol before fleeing the scene in a car.

The breakthrough in the investigation came through intensive scrutiny of CCTV cameras positioned around the area. Through analysis and leveraging technical surveillance and human intelligence, Delhi Police identified and apprehended the perpetrators within 24 hours.

Following their arrest, Delhi Police recovered the murder weapons and the vehicle used in the crime. The accused have been remanded into police custody as further investigations are ongoing.

TNN

Man arrested for videotaping 15-year-old girl

New Delhi: A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly making obscene videos of a minor in southwest Delhi’s Kapashera. A 15-year-old girl was taking a bath on Sunday when she felt someone watching and filming her through a bathroom ventilator. She immediately raised an alarm. The incident was reported to police and an FIR was registered. Police arrested a gardener in one of the farmhouses in the area during their investigation. The accused is a native of Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. Upon searching his phone, police discovered the videos. During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had been recording the minor for a while. When his phone was checked, police found six other videos of the girl. He has been booked under section 77 of the BNS and section 12 of the Pocso Act.

Police officers said they were trying to find out if the videos had been posted on social media. They are investigating his possible involvement in other such cases and trying to assess if he had videotaped other women without their consent.

TNN

Man gets 10 yrs’ jail for rape of 15-yr-old in 2021

Noida: A 22-year-old man was handed 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment for raping a 15-year-old girl he befriended on Facebook in 2021.

The convict, also the girl’s neighbour in Barola village, allegedly took the girl to Gurgaon where he raped her for a few days on the promise of marriage.

TNN

Ego Trip: `18L Between 0001 & 0002

Latter Goes For `5.1 Lakh As Craze For Fancy Numbers Spikes Post-Pandemic

Continued from P1

The Rs 23.4-lakh bid significantly surpassed the base price of Rs 5 lakh for the number, highlighting the immense value placed on this particular series of digits, perhaps because of its increasing rarity with the transport department claiming that it was often snatched up by politicians, ministers and top bureaucrats.

A transport official explained that 0001 was the most sought after number in e-auctions and among politicians. It was a status symbol that gave its owner indisputable bragging rights and a sense of being numero uno. In a similar way, 0007 too sees high bidding because it has become fashionable with its association with superspy James Bond and cricket icon Mahendra Singh Dhoni as well. The department secured Rs 5.1 lakh for 0002 in January auction.

The minimum reserve price is Rs 3 lakh for numbers 0002 to 0009, Rs 2 lakh for 0010 to 0099, 0786, 1000, 1111, 7777 and 9999, Rs 1 lakh for numbers such as 0100, 0111, 0300, 0333, etc. Other preferred numbers cost around Rs 25,000. 0786 is considered auspicious in the Muslim community.

E-auctions are held every first week of the month for registration numbers with a reserve price of Rs 1 lakh and above and every week for oth- er registration numbers. “A registration number not included in the auction catego- ry but sought by a person by jumping the chronological order of numbers in a series has a base price of Rs 25,000,” the official said.

On why there is this increasing craze for distinctive numbers, an official who has been part of some of these auctions said status value, numerology, superstitious beliefs, date of birth and numbers considered lucky were reasons why people were willing to pay for them. He also pointed out that people with several cars often desired to stick to a specific pattern for all their vehicles.

The online e-auctioning of coveted registration numbers was started in 2014. It is conducted by Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited on behalf of the transport department. Ministers, Supreme Court judges, Chief Election Commissioner, Lok Sabha Speaker, MPs, MLAs and senior bureaucrats, among others, are also entitled to get these numbers.

Officials said that though there has always been a craze for fancy numbers, it had never reached such levels before the Covid pandemic. In June 2017, a Delhi-based hospitality firm created a record when it paid Rs 16 lakh for the 0001 number plate. The record prior to that was Rs 12.5 lakh, which was bid for in Sept 2014, again for 0001.

Court asks forest dept to find out how many trees still concretised

Abhinav.Garg@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday ordered an inspection of the extent of concretisation of trees in the city, taking note of the manner in which several trees were uprooted in the recent storm.

Justice Jasmeet Singh directed the forest department to conduct a survey of all colonies and find out how many trees are still surrounded by concrete. He asked all the deputy conservators of forests in charge of various zones in Delhi to “inspect and inform” the court about concretisation, so that the court can issue further directions.

The bench was dealing with a clutch of petitions relating to wellbeing of trees and their preservation. These included taking stock of functioning of tree helpline and standard operating procedure to involve the forest department in planning infrastructure projects that require felling of trees by various other agencies.

On Monday, the court also asked authorities to explain if the forest department was consulted and other options explored to save 275 trees that were felled for a project.

The court has regularly flagged the need to remove concrete around trees. Last year, advocate Aditya N Prasad had informed it about an enclosed platform (chabutara) constructed around the standing trees in Bhikaji Cama Place Complex by DDA for “beautification” purposes. The court had then ordered DDA to ensure the concrete around the trees is removed immediately.

Prasad had further contended that there are orders of National Green Tribunal that require leaving one metre open space around the trunk of trees and prohibit any construction activity near it.

The court had subsequently ordered MCD, DDA and others to submit a timeframe for removal of concrete around all roadside trees while also seeking affidavits indicating the total number of trees that are surrounded by concrete.

LG had visited illegal tree cutting site: DDA to SC

SC BENCH HAD SAID EARLIER The email says that LG had visited and ordered cutting of trees but no inquiry was conducted on that aspect. Was it not the function of the committee to look into it?

AmitAnand.Choudhary@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Delhi Development Authority has told Supreme Court that lieutenant governor V K Saxena on Feb 3 had visited the Ridge in south Delhi where trees were felled illegally and also placed before the court a list of officers who were present at the site.

In the previous hearing, the court had accused DDA of concealing facts to save “higher ups” as the land controlling agency failed to lift the haze on whether Saxena had visited the Ridge and had approved the felling of over 750 trees in violation of the law for widening of a road.

In an affidavit, DDA vice-chairman Subhasish Panda, who is facing contempt proceedings for violating SC's order on cutting of trees, informed the court that his office had conducted a through inquiry and went through all records and took inputs from other officers to respond to court's query on whether the LG had visited the site.

“Engineer member, DDA, stated that his office had received intimation on Feb 2from the office of vice-chairman regarding the visit of LG to CAPFIMS (Central Armed Police Forces Institute of Medical Sciences) on Feb 3. His intimation was recorded in the engagement diary in the office of the engineer member. The engineer member further stated that one letter and two emails are part of the file of chief engineer (regarding LG's visit),” the affidavit said.

Panda attached the relevant documents along with his affidavit, including a copy of an email dated Feb 3 addressed by the executive engineer to the office of chief engineer incorporating directions given by the LG during the visit on Feb 3.

The court had issued notice to the vice-chairman on a contempt petition filed by Delhi resident Bindu Kapurea who moved the court through advocate Manan Verma against him for felling trees in violation of various laws. As per the petitioner, more than 1,100 trees were cut as against 633 mentioned in DDA's records. Forest Survey of India, in its preliminary report, said over 750 trees were cut but had sought time to analyse satellite images to ascertain the exact number.

With the SC keen to find out the main person responsible for felling of a large number of trees for constructing a road, it had directed DDA on June 24 to come clean on the LG's role in light of the allegation that the executive engineer, in his email messages, had specifically mentioned that the LG visited the site on Feb 3 and directed cutting of trees. Later, however, the engineer recanted the statement and disowned the mail.

Not satisfied by DDA’s response, the bench had said, “The email says that LG had visited and ordered cutting of trees but no inquiry was conducted on that aspect. Was it not the function of the committee to look into it? You are only protecting the higher-ups and blaming lower officers. There are efforts to conceal the facts and we are not happy. You are unable to give us a record. It is difficult for us to believe that there is no record of LG's visit.”

Teacher-student ratio in Delhi among worst in country: BJP

New Delhi: Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva on Monday alleged that AAP had damaged the school education system in the capital. “They have not recruited regular teachers or guest teachers for a long time and many have been diverted to non-teaching duties. This has led to one of the worst teacher-students’ ratio in Delhi govt schools,” he claimed.

Sachdeva said BJP never wanted to do politics on education but minister Atishi’s repeated remarks against the party “forced it” to put the situation in public domain. In the past ten years, AAP has not hired any new regular teachers, he alleged.

Sachdeva further alleged that Delhi schools needed 62,000 teachers while there were only around 43,000 teachers and 13,000 guest teachers. Yet, Kejriwal govt diverted over 5,000 teachers to non-teaching duties, he added.

Posts of around 5,200 clerks and accounts staff in Delhi govt schools are also vacant, he claimed.

The BJP functionary alleged that Delhi govt was splashing public money on schemes like Business Blasters to garner support for AAP.

AAP said Delhi’s education system was the best in India, as evident by US First Lady Melania Trump’s visit. NITI Aayog has also stated that govt schools of Delhi are best in terms of infrastructure and education, said the party. TNN

Students question NTA’s CUET-UG answer keys

Following allegations of wrong answers, on Sunday, NTA issued a notification saying that challenges made by the candidates would be verified by a panel of subject experts

Ridhima.Gupta@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: After a significant delay, the National Testing Agency (NTA) finally released the answer keys for the Common University Entrance Test-Undergraduate on Sunday prior to the announcement of the exam results. Shortly after, students and teachers claimed they had noticed "inaccuracies” in the answer key. Expressing concern that such inaccuracies could negatively impact their results, students urged NTA to rectify them.

Abhinay Tiwari, a student of Gyan Mandir Public School, said he was stressed about the delay in the CUET answer key but now that they are out, his anxiety has only increased. “In my English exam, the answer keys show wrong answers for the comprehension passage as well as jumbled sentences,” the youngster protested. “I had marked the right answers, but the answer key shows wrong answers. I first thought I might have made mistakes, but after checking with my teachers and the answers online, it turns out the CUET key itself is wrong.” He added that he noticed irregularities on his economics paper answer key too.

Sarthak Gupta of Faith Academy also found “at least errors in four answers” in the English paper. “Several other students have alleged similar problems in their English, mathematics and sociology answer key,” he claimed.

TOI asked city coaching centres that had prepared examinees for the CUET exams to learn if many more students had similar complaints. Karan, who is a teacher in KeyCampus, said, “Ever since the answer keys have been released, many of my students have pointed out discrepancies in the answer key. And these are not just one or two errors, but there are errors in the key in almost all subjects.”

Karan added, “The toppers in my batch have come with 10-15 wrong answers in the key. We matched their answers with NCERT answers too and it shows the answer keys are wrong.”

A teacher from Unimonks, which prepares students for CUET, said most complaints about discrepancies are with regard to sociology in the humanities stream, accounts in commerce and maths in science. Dr Arvind said, “Many students claim that they want to challenge the answer key, but contesting each answer will cost Rs 200, and not all students can afford to do that for all their papers. This is why it is imperative that NTA should look into these grievances and rectify the answer keys.” As per NTA regulations, students can challenge the provisional answer key at a cost of Rs 200 per question until July 9.

Following allegations of wrong answers, on Sunday, NTA issued a notification saying that challenges made by the candidates would be verified by a panel of subject experts. The testing agency had said the CUET-UG result would be published on June 30, but it is likely to be released now on July 10.

NTA is already in a row over alleged irregularities and paper leaks in two of India’s largest competitive entrance examinations: the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test for admissions to undergraduate medical courses and the University Grants Commission-National Eligibility Test for the post of assistant professor in universities and colleges.

Clip shows man mowed down by tanker on flooded road

New Delhi: CCTV footage has emerged, revealing the sequence of events that led to an 18-year-old man’s death last Wednesday after being allegedly crushed under a tanker while another man was stabbed when some youths went on the rampage in Sangam Vihar.

The video captures the incident on a waterlogged street where a group of men are seen vandalising a water tanker. One of the men is seen opening the tanker's door and attempting to pull the driver out. After a while, when the attack does not cease, the tanker driver speeds away, accidentally running over one of his attackers.

According to police, an autorickshaw broke down and its four occupants were moving it to the roadside when the tanker, navigating the flooded street after heavy rain, passed by, splashing water on them.

An argument ensued, and the auto passengers hurled stones at the tanker, causing its driver to lose control and allegedly run over one of them. He fled the scene, prompting a frustrated search by the auto's occupants.

Another auto driver, who had witnessed the commotion, approached the group to ask about the damage to the tanker. One of the youths allegedly stabbed him. Later, police arrested the man.

TNN

NDMC launches plan to boost drain infra

Vibha.Sharma@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has launched an initiative to boost drainage infrastructure by repairing damaged bell mouths and drainage lines that connect to manholes to prevent waterlogging and structure collapses during the monsoon.

Some of the manholes have been impacted by long roots of trees planted along roadsides or adjacent to sidewalks.

Under NDMC's area, there are 11,867 manholes, 8,704 bell mouths and 14 major drains spread across 270.8km.

Kuljeet Chahal, an NDMC member, said: "While bell mouths and drains are being cleaned daily to remove sludge or waste, it has been seen that many of bell mouths or drainage lines connecting these bell mouths to manholes have also been damaged because of tree roots or other reasons. To avoid any damage to these trees and at the same time mitigate chances of waterlogging, our teams have started replacing, shifting or repairing them (the manholes) on priority."

Chahal added that the carrying capacity of drainage pipes has increased by nearly 5% due to the thorough cleaning and desilting efforts. Moreover, to minimise the risk of waterlogging in areas such as Golf Links, Bharti Nagar and the area beyond Khan Market during heavy rainfall, the council has installed four dewatering pumps with a combined capacity of 550 HP.

“"During the most recent rain, a section of the Bharti Nagar boundary wall collapsed due to waterlogging. Rain water entered the Golf Links area. To make sure the situation does not recur, we have increased the number of de-watering pumps from one to four,” Chahal said. Pumps with 200 HP capacity have been installed at a nearby DTC depot near the Sunheri Pul nullah to prevent the drain from overflowing during heavy rain.

Chahal said that a depot is near the nullah and after the intervention of chairman Naresh Kumar, who is also the chi- ef secretary, consensus was reached to increase the number of pumps from one to four. These will start functioning as soon as the overflowing of the drain starts."

Similar steps have been taken at Lodhi Estate Flats, where three pump sets have been installed to immediately flush out rain water. The measures were reviewed in a meeting attended by LG VK Saxena, NDMC chairman, and MP Bansuri Swaraj.

NDMC has claimed to have enhanced the capacity of sewer lines by 20% and the drainage system by 10% since 2014 through rehabilitation efforts. “About 23km of sewerage lines have been strengthened using the latest technology. About Rs 50 crore has been spent on improving old lines,” the NDMC member said. Several projects are under way, including the rehabilitation of a 1,905mm diameter sewer line along the Kushak Nalla at Brig. Hoshiar Singh Road. The council has given in-principle nod for 2 projects: 2,100 mm diameter twin barrels at Zakir Hussain Marg, and a 600mm line at Telegraph Lane.

3 of Gzb family die in Jaipur highway crash

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur: Three members of a Ghaziabad-based family were killed, and 11 others were injured after a Rajasthan roadways bus rammed into a truck on Monday morning under Shahpura police station area of Jaipur (Rural). laden with cement on Jaipur-New Delhi highway.

Additional SP (Traffic) Neel Kamal said the family lived in Sahibabad in Ghaziabad.

DSP (Shahpura) Umesh Nitharwal said the victims were identified as Jay Agrawal (40), his wife Tina Agrawal (35), and their son Pritam Agrawal (16).

"Little information is known about the family. We have informed their relatives about the incident and asked them to come to Jaipur,” he said.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the accident occurred while the bus was attempting to overtake the truck. "Prima facie, it appears that the accident took place while the bus was trying to overtake the truck, which is why the entire left side of the bus was completely damaged," Nitharwal explained.

Police said, the roadways bus collided from behind with the truck. A crane was called in to rescue the passengers. The injured were initially taken to a nearby hospital from where 11 people were referred to SMS Hospital for further treatment.

Bharadwaj reviews readiness of govt hospitals to tackle dengue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Following a high-level meeting with top doctors in state-run hospitals and officials of health department to assess the preparedness to fight vector borne diseases, health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday ordered an intensive fogging and sanitation exercise in the capital.

The minister asked the officials to conduct regular visits to hospitals to assess availability of medicines and directed them to run awareness campaigns to prevent any dengue outbreak this year. Dengue is caused by a virus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

The meeting was attended by medical directors and superintendents of state-run hospitals and health department officials. The minister had held two meetings on govt’s preparedness for dengue management with health department officials last week.

According to a govt statement, the minister has directed the medical officers for immediate examination of people arriving with symptoms of dengue and their proper treatment, if found positive. “Bharadwaj instructed the officials concerned to intensify fogging and cleaning campaigns in dengue-prone areas and di- rected medical superintendents to visit the facilities daily,” the statement read.

In a post in Hindi on X, Bharadwaj said, “Held a review meeting with medical superintendents and directors of all Delhi govt hospitals regarding dengue cases during the rainy season. Detailed information was sought about the availability of medicines in hospitals, arrangement of beds for dengue patients and other preparations. Instructions were also issued to take necessary steps to prevent dengue.”

He directed the officials to ensure that if any mosquito breeding spot was spotted around hospital premises, it should be promptly brought to the notice of Municipal Corporation of Delhi. He also asked them to ensure availability of mosquito nets in sufficient quantities for dengue patients in all health facilities. “Instructions were issued to run awareness campaigns to make the public aware and identify the symptoms of dengue, with an emphasis on holding such programmes in schools and public places,” the statement read.

While the minister issued instructions to health department to increase rapid testing and treatment of dengue, he also directed that information about measures to prevent dengue was to be disseminated through social media, newspapers and television.

Wait Gets Longer For 4 Key Hosp Projects

Deadlines For Expansion, Construction Missed

Siddhanta.Mishra@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Four key hospital projects in the city, including the expansion of two facilities and the construction of another two, are running behind schedule.

While Lok Nayak Hospital (LNJP) and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital are being expanded significantly, a new hospital in Madipur and a new block at Guru Gobind Singh Hospital in Raghubir Nagar are being constructed, all under Public Works Department (PWD).

All these projects have overshot their deadlines. For instance, at LNJP Hospital, PWD is constructing Delhi’s tallest hospital building with 21 floors. Once built, the facility will have 4,000 beds. The new building, with a parking capacity of 400 vehicles, is expected to be ready by 2025. While it was supposed to be completed by March 2023, the work got delayed and the construction cost also increased.

Similarly, at GTB Hospital, PWD’s work on a five-story hospital with a capacity of 1,912 beds was supposed to be completed in Sept 2022 at an estimated cost of Rs 407 crore. The expansion of Guru Gobind Singh Hospital, at an estimated cost of Rs 155 crore, includes the construction of nine floors, along with a hostel and a dormitory. This was supposed to be completed by May this year, but the work is still on.

A PWD official said the new multi-story hospital in Madipur is “more than 90% complete” and “only the finishing work is going on”. The estimated cost is Rs 320 crore. The project was supposed to be completed in March this year, but has not been able to meet the deadline.

The timely completion of these projects is crucial for improving healthcare infrastructure and ensuring accessible medical facilities for the growing population of Delhi. Many of the projects were initiated following the pandemic, when the city’s health infrastructure was under severe stress. To better prepare for any calamity in the future, govt started expansion of Delhi’s existing health facilities.

The delay has raised concerns among authorities. Lieutenant governor V K Saxena had earlier instructed officials to examine health projects like LNJP that may be experiencing cost overruns. The authorities are expected to take necessary measures to address the issues causing the delays and increased expenditure, and work towards the swift completion of all essential healthcare projects.

Shots fired in Jahangirpuri

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Multiple shots were fired in Jahangirpuri on Sunday. A group of armed men started firing indiscriminately in the area and fled the scene. The motive is suspected to be establishing supremacy or personal enmity. No arrests have been made till now.

Police received a PCR call regarding gunfire in C block. At the scene, cops found cartridges in front of a house. The incident caused chaos in the area. Cops are investigating the motive from all angles, including whether it was a case of personal enmity or establishing supremacy.

The scene of the crime has been inspected, and evidence has been taken into police possession.

Inspect city’s nursing homes for fire-safety compliance, says HC

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi High Court has directed authorities to inspect nursing homes in the city for compliance with fire safety norms, noting that safety of people, staff and patients is of paramount importance.

In a recent order, justice Sanjeev Narula also asked a panel set up by Delhi govt in 2019 to review the status of nursing homes with respect to compliance with various laws, including fire prevention, to “promptly conclude” the deliberations and submit a final report to the court.

HC’s order came while dealing with a petition by an association of nursing homes. It took into account the recent incidents of fire in nursing homes and lapses in fire safety compliance, saying the immediate priority is to ensure that the basic safety equipment is installed in such premises to keep people safe.

The court asked Directorate General of Health Services, Delhi govt, Delhi Fire Services and DDA to set up a joint committee for inspection of all the nursing houses that are members of the petitioner association within a period of two weeks. “Notwithstanding the petitioners’ contentions concerning the challenges in implementing infrastructural alterations, in order to assess the prevailing provisions for fire safety, the court deems it apposite to order an inspection of the nursing homes that form part of petitioner no. 1—association,” the court said.

HC directed that once the inspection is over, the committee will prepare a “comprehensive report” flagging non-compliances, except for structural defects, with fire safety norms. The court sought the report within four weeks from the inspection and clarified that the committee can, if needed, issue notices to defiant nursing homes.

In its petition filed in 2022, petitioner Delhi Medical Association challenged an Aug 2019 communication issued by Directorate General of Health Services, requesting Delhi Fire Services to undertake an audit of fire safety measures at all private hospitals and nursing homes in Delhi. The petitioner said it represented the interests of private nursing homes and argued that the mandate to obtain a fire safety certificate does not extend to nursing homes that are being run on ‘mixed-use’ land.

Court to hear Kavitha’s default bail plea this wk

TIMESNEWSNETWORK

New Delhi: A court on Monday scheduled the hearing of a default bail application of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS)’s K Kavitha for July 12 in the Delhi excise policy case.

Kavitha filed the application at Rouse Avenue Courts, citing that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an incomplete chargesheet even after the 60-day investigation period had lapsed. The court of special judge Kaveri Baweja issued notice to CBI seeking its response to the plea.

Meanwhile, the court reserved its order on taking cognisance of the third supplementary chargesheet of CBI on the matter. It’s likely to pronounce its order on July 15.

The BRS politician argued that the chargesheet was incomplete, giving her the right to default bail under Criminal Procedure Code. While the law mandates CBI to file a complete chargesheet within the 60 days of an arrest, Kavitha has already spent longer than that in custody, the plea stated. She was arrested on March 15 in Hyderabad.

Man held for murder of partner’s son

Gurgaon: A 28-year-old man from UP’s Bijnor was arrested for allegedly assaulting sons of his live-in partner in her absence on Sunday night. One of them, a 7-year old boy, succumbed to his in juries in hospital. Cops said the boy’s mother has been living with the accused for the past several months.

TNN

SC To Hear CBI Plea Against Acquittal Of Nithari Convict

No Stay On Acquittal In 12 Cases; Koli Serving Life Term In Another Matter

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday entertained appeals by CBI challenging Allahabad High Court judgments acquitting Surinder Koli, who was awarded death sentences in 12 cases of sexual assault and murder of minor girls and women in what became infamous as the Nithari killings, but the man will not come out of jail as he is serving life term in another case.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, told a bench of Justices B R Gavai and K V Viswanathan that these cases depicted brutal acts of a depraved mind which led to sexual assault of minor girls and women followed by their murders, and in some cases indulgence in cannibalism. The bench needed no more persuasion to issue notice to Koli.

However, the 12 judgments being orders of acquit- tal as against death penalty imposed by the trial court, the Supreme Court did not stay the HC order as that would mean activating trial court judgments imposing capital punishment.

However, the acquittals in 12 cases by the HC will not result in Koli coming out of prison as he is serving life sentence in another case of the Nithari killings, which took place in 2005-2006. In that case, the death penalty imposed by the trial court in 2007 was upheld by Allahabad HC in 2009 and then by the SC in 2011.

Awaiting the gallows, Koli had filed a mercy petition before the President, which was rejected after a long delay. When Koli challenged the rejection of mercy petition and sought commutation of death penalty on the ground of delay in deciding the mercy plea, the HC in Jan 2015 commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment.

Tihar told to reply on CM plea for more virtual meets

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday asked Tihar prison authorities to respond to a plea by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal who has sought additional virtual meetings with his lawyers.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna gave the prison five days to file a reply and listed the matter for July 15.

Kejriwal has challenged a trial court's order rejecting his application for two additional meetings in a week with his lawyers through video conference.

At present, the jailed AAP national convener is allowed two meetings with his lawyers per week.

Kejriwal's lawyer contended that Aam Aadmi Party functionary was facing around 35 cases across the country and on grounds of the right to a fair trial, he required two more meetings each week with his lawyers via video conference.

However, Enforcement Directorate said it will file a response. When the high court sought to know the stand of the jail authorities, their counsel submitted that the rule is the same for all and a prisoner is entitled to two meetings with his or her advocate each week. He added all 35 cases were not being heard simultaneously in a week and so there was no need for additional meetings.

The trial court had earlier rejected the plea, saying no ground was made out to allow the two additional meetings through video conference.

In separate petitions, Kejriwal has challenged his arrest in the corruption case registered by CBI in connection with the alleged excise policy scam and also sought bail.

AAP functionary was arrested by Central Bureau of Investigation on June 26 from Tihar Jail, where he is still in judicial custody in a connected money laundering case filed by Enforcement Directorate.

Kejriwal, arrested by Enforcement Directorate on March 21, was granted bail by the trial court in the money laundering case on June 20. However, the trial court's order was stayed by the high court.

Lost because of internal bickering: Raj

DELHI CONGRESS SAYS We fought the election unitedly and gave him full support but unfortunately he lost. If he had any grievance, he must have told the same to the fact-finding committee

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: A month after he lost his election, Congress’ North West Delhi candidate Udit Raj on Monday alleged that his campaign was sabotaged internally.

Raj said that Congress functionaries against whom action should have been taken were controlling the administration of the party and the election. He also claimed that AAP MLAs got insecure and made no efforts to get their vote bank transferred in favour of Congress.

“One of the biggest factors of my defeat was internal bickering in the party. Whatever efforts the senior leadership put up to win were sabotaged by the local Congress functionaries. Those who conspired against our own candidates were rewarded by the party,” Raj told TOI.

Delhi Congress’ interim president Devender Yadav, however, refuted the charges and claimed that the entire party was standing in support of him. “We fought the election unitedly and gave him full support but unfortunately he lost. If he had any grievance, I am sure he must have told the same to the factfinding committee, which tried to understand the reasons why we lost,” Yadav said.

Raj lost the election to BJP’s Yogendra Chandoliya by nearly 2.9 lakh votes. While he got 5.76 lakh votes, Chandoliya managed to secure 8.66 votes in the recently held general elections. Raj had won the 2014 election on BJP ticket but quit the saffron party after he was ignored in the 2019 polls and joined the Congress.

Despite Congress fighting the election in Delhi in allian- ce with AAP, Raj alleged that its MLAs did not support the three candidates his party had fielded in the capital. “AAP MLAs thought they would not be able to make the electorate vote on ‘broom’ (AAP’s election symbol) again if they voted for Congress now,” he added.

Another Congress functionary claimed that the same story was repeated in Chandni Chowk and North East Delhi, the two other constituencies where the grand-old party fielded its candidates. The remaining four constituencies went to Aam Aadmi Party in the seat sharing arrangement. BJP won all seven.

No reaction was available from AAP.

MCD reduces illegal waste dumping points

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Mayor Shelly Oberoi met senior officials from all 12 zones on Monday to assess the status of garbage vulnerable points (GVP) and determine the number of sites that have been shut to maintain cleanliness in the areas.

Oberoi later announced that all zones had successfully reduced the number of illegal dumping points and improved the sanitation system. The deputy commissioners and senior officials from the engineering and DEMS departments of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) briefed about the number of GVPs removed this year compared to last year, new points identified, and actions taken. “But we want to shut down even minor sites and make sure that these are no more eyesore in the areas,” Oberoi said.

The mayor sought the appointment of a nodal officer in each ward to oversee the elimination and beautification of GVPs. “It is an achievement that Sadar Paharganj zone has no major GVP, Narela also has only one,” said an official.

“The areas where GVPs have been closed must feature paintings, dustbins must be installed and citizens should be educated to avoid dumping garbage. I also request citizens to cooperate by disposing of garbage at designated spots and collection centres,” said Oberoi.

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor welcomed the appointment of nodal officers, but called it an acceptance of BJP’s point that MCD’s sanitation services had collapsed. The leader of opposition at MCD, Raja Iqbal Singh, criticised AAP for the deteriorating cleaning system in Delhi.

From drizzle to downpour, city caught in rain roulette

Priyangi.Agarwal@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: The city has seen uneven rainfall since the arrival of the monsoon. Northwest, north Delhi and New Delhi districts have seen large excess rainfall at 129%, 91%, and 69%, respectively, this season. However, the west Delhi has seen a rain deficit of 99%.

India Meteorological Department’s data from June 1 to July 8 shows that the entire city has logged an average rainfall of 116.3 mm. The normal is 98.9 mm.

IMD has placed Delhi in the ‘normal’ category.

SD Kotal, a scientist at IMD, said: “The distribution of rainfall varies from place to place. It depends on atmospheric conditions and local geographical condtions.”

Another Met official said: “Local factors, including urbanisation and green cover, influ- ence rainfall pattern. Open spaces with green cover are likely to see more rain than the highly concretised areas.”

West Delhi, which is the only district to occupy a place in the ‘large deficit’ category, has received just 1 mm of rainfall as opposed to the normal of 111.8mm between June 1 and July 8. North-east Delhi has seen a rain deficit of 59% as the district has received 46.4mm.

For IMD, June to Sept is the monsoon but the onset of the season in Delhi was on June 28. Before the arrival of the monsoon, the city had witnessed very light rainfall.

North-west Delhi, which has so far received the highest rainfall, recorded 176.5mm, which was 129% in excess of the normal.

However, four districts---central, east, south and south-west--have found a place in the ‘normal’ category.

IMD classifies rainfall as a deficit when it is short by 19%. If the rain falls between -19 and 19%, it is classified as normal, and between 20 and 59%, it is excess rainfall. Large excess is when rainfall is 60% more than the normal for that area.

The Met department’s forecast says that there are chances of very light to light rain on Tuesday and Wednesday, but the city may receive light to moderate rain or thunderstorm or lightning on Thursday. IMD has issued a yellow alert for Thursday for light to moderate showers as the city may get additional moisture from Arabian Sea. “Heavy rain is unlikely over the next few days,” said Kotal, the India Meteorological Department scientist.

The maximum temperature was recorded at 32.2 degrees Celsius, four degrees below normal, on Monday. The minimum temperature stood at 25.6 degrees Celsius, two notches below normal.

Times Global

- Hamas: Israeli PM creating ‘obstacles’ to Gaza truce talks

- Eye on China? US to up scrutiny on property deals near military sites

- 2 PIOs among 5 independents who won in UK on Gaza stance

- Defiant Biden dares Dems to ‘challenge’ him at convention

- France’s left ready to form govt, faces tricky talks

- Pak to HC: X ban not against laws of the country

- 2024 could be ‘world’s hottest year’ as June breaks records

- Russia destroys a children’s hosp in deadly barrage across Ukraine

- France allows extradition of American who sent ‘I raped you’ message to victim on FB

- Alice Munro’s daughter says sexually abused by stepdad: ‘She knew & protected him’

- AROUND THE WORLD

Hamas: Israeli PM creating ‘obstacles’ to Gaza truce talks

Doha: Hamas on Monday accused Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu of obstructing negotiations for a truce and hostage release in Gaza as mediators again push for a deal. The Palestinian militant group accused Netanyahu of escalating “his aggression and crimes against our people” in what it said were “attempts to forcibly displace them in order to thwart all efforts to reach an agreement”.

As heavy battles raged in Gaza City on Monday, the Israeli military expanded its evacuation order in the territory’s north, leaving thousands of Palestinians on the move. Netanyahu’s office reiterated on Sunday that “any deal will allow Israel to return and fight until all the goals of the war are achieved”.

With the exception of a one week truce in Nov, which saw 80 Israeli hostages freed in exchange for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, talks have repeatedly foundered over differences between the parties. Mediators Egypt and Qatar were due to host new meetings this week.

Hamas has signalled it would drop its insistence on a “complete” ceasefire, a demand Israel has repeatedly rejected. On Monday, the group said it had shown “flexibility to facilitate reaching an agreement”. AFP

Eye on China? US to up scrutiny on property deals near military sites

Washington: The US plans to broaden oversight of foreigners’ real estate transactions on properties close to military installations, the treasury department said Monday, as concerns involving Chinese land purchases grow. “President Biden and I remain committed to using our strong investment screening tool to defend America’s national security, including actions that protect military installations from external threats,” treasury secretary Janet Yellen said.

Under a proposed rule, more than 50 facilities will be added to a list of sites where surrounding property transactions may be reviewed by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) — taking the total figure to 227. CFIUS’s jurisdiction covers land purchases as well.

The concern is that a foreigner’s purchase or lease of certain properties could allow them to collect intelligence or “expose national security activities” to foreign surveillance risks, the treasury secretary noted. AFP

2 PIOs among 5 independents who won in UK on Gaza stance

Naomi Canton

London: Two Indian-origin MPs are among five independents who won in the UK general election on Thursday. All triumphed on pro-Gaza platforms, sparking fears about the rise of sectarian politics in England.

There have been only eight independent MPs elected in a UK general election since 1950.

The winners this time were all endorsed by the Muslim Vote, an influential campaign alliance of 24 activist groups that is highly critical of Labour’s early stance on Gaza, particularly not backing a ceasefire vote in the House of Commons in Nov 2023. In constituencies where at least 40% of people described their religion as Muslim, the Labour vote share suffered an average drop of 33.9%. Several Labour MPs targeted by the Muslim Vote only just held on to their seats.

The five independent winners are PIOs Iqbal Mohamed and Shockat Adam; British-Pakistanis Ayoub Khan and Adnan Hussain; and former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn.

Iqbal Mohamed, an engineer and management consultant whose parents arrived from India in the 1960s, won Dewsbury and Batley with 15,641 votes, leaving the Labour candidate in second place with 8,707 votes.

The other PIO, Shockat Adam, is a Gujarati-Muslim optometrist raised in Leicester. He caused one of the biggest upsets of the night when he unseated Labour’s shadow paymaster Jonathan Ashworth in Leicester South, narrowly winning by 979 votes. The seat has been held by Labour since 1987, apart from one by-poll in 2004. As the results came out, he held up a keffiyeh scarf and said: “This is for the people of Gaza.”

Defiant Biden dares Dems to ‘challenge’ him at convention

Says Won’t Step Aside: ‘Beat Trump Last Time, Will Do It Again’

DEFENDER-IN-CHIEF: First Lady Jill Biden is scheduled to campaign for her husband Monday, while prez preps for the Nato summit, beginning Tuesday

Chidanand Rajghatta TNN

Washington: US Prez Joe Biden wrote a defiant letter on Monday to Democratic lawmakers, insisting that he is “firmly committed to staying in the (presidential) race”, amid rising clamour in the party and beyond asking him to bow out.

A growing number of lawmakers, fat-cat donors, and party activists are urging him to quit the race, but Biden is now challenging them to formally remove him from the ticket if they have popular rank and file support. “If any of these guys don’t think I should run, run against me... Go ahead, announce for president. Challenge me at the convention,” he raged in a phone-in to MSNBC’s Morning Joe, saying “I don’t care what those big names think”, and talk of turfing him out is “driving me nuts”.

In his letter to party lawmakers, Biden said he wasn’t blind to concerns being expressed in various fora but insisted “I wouldn’t be running again if I did not absolutely believe I was the best person to beat Donald Trump in 2024.” He said Democratic voters had spoken during the primaries, and it was their decision to have him run — “not the press, not the pundits, not the big donors.”

The US prez’s defiant stand came hours after several lawmakers reportedly told the party’s congressional leadership that Biden should step aside. Although only five lawmakers have publicly called for Biden to withdraw, those who are still backing him are said to be shrinking in numbers.

Polls — and public figures aligned with the Democratic Party — are also suggesting that Biden should withdraw, and do it quickly, so that the party can nominate a new challenger to Trump before the party convention in Chicago on Aug 19. “Joe Biden has been a fine president, but it’s time for him — in the interests of the America he so clearly loves — to announce he will not run for re-election,” writer Stephen King, a fierce Trump critic, posted on X Monday.

Liberal media maven Michael Moore said putting Biden up to such scrutiny is the “cruellest form of elder abuse”. “He was in epic distress (at the debate). Who would send an 81-year-old out onto any stage to debate a living monster at nine o’clock at night for a brawl that would not end until 10:42 pm?” he said in a podcast.

Biden still has his supporters although the numbers are fading. Many of them expressed outrage that while the prez’s every move every hour is being subjected to such intense scrutiny, the media was giving a free pass to Trump, who has rarely been seen in public this past week. Biden himself took a shot at Trump, saying the ex-prez hasn’t done anything in 10 days except for “riding around a golf cart in Mara-Lago with his wealthy friends”. Separately, his campaign sent out a memo listing 15 public and private events Biden has taken part in since the debate. “I’m not running because of the rich guys. I’m running for the American people. I beat Donald Trump last time, I’ll beat him this time,” an exasperated prez told MSNBC.

A Parkinson’s expert visited White House 8 times in 8 months, show visitor logs

An expert on Parkinson’s disease from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center visited the White House eight times in eight months from last summer through this spring, including at least once for a meeting with Prez Biden’s physician, according to official visitor logs. The expert, Dr Kevin Cannard, is a neurologist who specialises in movement disorders and recently published a paper on Parkinson’s. The logs, released by the White House in response to a request from NYT, document visits from July 2023 through March of this year. It was unclear whether Dr Cannard was at the White House to consult specifically about the prez or whether he was there as part of unrelated meetings with the White House medical team. After a Feb 28 annual physical checkup, Dr Kevin O’Connor, the White House physician, said “an extremely detailed neurologic exam” that had yielded “no findings which would be consistent with” Parkinson’s, stroke or other central neurological disorders. The White House has said in recent days that there has been no reason to conduct further examination since Feb. NYT

France’s left ready to form govt, faces tricky talks

Paris: With France’s National Assembly split in three groups — the surging left, a strong centrist alliance and a growing far-right — with no group securing the majority to form govt, the country’s political class is grappling with an unprecedented hung house.

In a situation all too familiar to the Indian electorate and political class, possibilities include the left forming a minority govt — which would be at the mercy of a no-confidence vote from rivals unless they reach deals — and the cobbling together of an unwieldy coalition of parties with almost no common ground.

The French left said it wanted to run the govt but JeanLuc Melenchon, who heads the far left France Unbowed, has ruled out any deal with Macron’s centrists and the feeling is mutual. “It’s not going to be simple,” said Marine Tondelier, who heads the Green party, an ally in NFP which has no single leader. “The president of the Republic must call on us to run the govt, to respect the outcome of the election,” Ma- nuel Bompard, of the hard left France Unbowed said before a meeting with the Socialists, Greens and Communists to decide on what strategy NFP would take. Olivier Faure, the Socialist leader, told France Info radio he expected the parties to agree on a plan this week.

National Rally (RN) prez Jordan Bardella, who was touted as the PM-candidate ahead of results, said, “Electoral deals and arrangements between Melenchon and Macron have stopped us getting a majority.”

A fragmented parliament will make it hard for anyone to push through a domestic agenda and is likely to weaken France’s role in the EU and further afield. “The most immediate risk is a financial crisis and France’s economic decline,” said the current finance minister, Bruno Le Maire. Macron, whose term ends in 2027, looks unlikely to be able to drive policy again, though he had already pushed through much of his agenda, including increasing pension age, a move that caused street protests, and a divisive immigration bill. AGENCIES

RN to lead Orban-forged alliance in EU House

France’s National Rally (RN) will lead the European Parliament’s third-largest alliance, Patriots for Europe, forged by Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, the group announced Monday. Marine Le Pen’s far-right RN joined the alliance in the European Parliament earlier on Monday, a day after it suffered a blow in France legislative elections. Austria’s far-right Freedom Party, Hungary’s Fidesz and the populist Czech ANO party led by Andrej Babis had already agreed to join forces, citing the fight against illegal immigration, as well as transferring more powers from Brussels back to member states as the new alliance’s goals. With the addition of RN’s 30 members, the Patriots will pose a challenge to the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), which supports Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as European Commission prez. In total, the Patriots have 84 members. REUTERS

Pak to HC: X ban not against laws of the country

Islamabad: Pakistan authorities on Monday informed Sindh HC that banning social media platform X is not against the laws of the country.

The court was hearing a case against the ban imposed on Feb 17 in the wake of rigging controversy during the Feb 8 elections. The ministry of interior in its response submitted to the court said: “All legal requirements were fulfilled before imposing the ban on X. Article 19 allows freedom of speech, but it also entails certain legal restrictions,” the ministry stated.

Article 19 is about freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of the press. It further stated that the platform has been used to upload hate speech against national institutions, prompting concerns. PTI

2024 could be ‘world’s hottest year’ as June breaks records

BEATING THE HEAT

Brussels: Last month was the hottest June on record, the EU’s climate change monitoring service said on Monday, continuing a streak of exceptional temperatures that some scientists said puts 2024 on track to be the world’s hottest recorded year.

Every month since June 2023 — 13 months in a row — has ranked as the planet’s hottest since records began, compared with the corresponding month in previous years, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said in a monthly bulletin.

The latest data suggest 2024 could outrank 2023 as the hottest year since records began after human-caused climate change and the El Nino natural weather phenomenon both pushed temperatures to re- cord highs in the year so far, some scientists said.

“I now estimate that there is an approximately 95% chance that 2024 beats 2023 to be the warmest year since global surface temperature records began in the mid-1800s,” said Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist at US non-profit Berkeley Earth. The changed climate has already unleashed disastrous consequences around the world in 2024. More than 1,000 people died in fierce heat during the haj pilgrimage last month. Heat deaths were recorded in New Dehli and amongst tourists in Greece.

Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute, said there was a “high chance” 2024 would rank as the hottest year on record. “El Nino is a naturally occurring phenomenon that will always come and go. We can’t stop El Nino, but we can stop burning oil, gas, and coal,” she said.

The natural El Nino phenomenon, which warms the surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, tends to raise global average temperatures.

In the 12 months ending in June, the world’s average temperature was the highest on record for any such period, at 1.64°Cabove the pre-industrial average, C3S said. REUTERS

Russia destroys a children’s hosp in deadly barrage across Ukraine

2 Confirmed Killed, 16 Injured At Site, Rescuers Fear Many Missing; 36 Civilians Killed In 40 Missile Hits Across Country

Rescuers and volunteers clean up the rubble and search for victims after a Russian missile hit the country’s main children hospital in Kyiv on Monday

Kyiv: Russia blasted the main children’s hospital in Kyiv with a missile in broad daylight on Monday and rained missiles down on other cities across Ukraine, killing at least 36 civilians in the deadliest wave of air strikes for months.

Parents holding babies walked in the street outside the Okhmatdyt hospital, dazed and sobbing after the rare daylight aerial attack. Windows had been smashed and panels ripped off and hundreds of Kyiv residents were helping to clear debris. “It was scary. I couldn’t breathe, I was trying to cover (my baby). I was trying to cover him with this cloth so that he could breathe,” Svitlana Kravchenko, 33, said.

The Okhmatdyt hospital is renowned across Ukraine, and carries out some 10,000 surgical procedures each year. Around 600 children are treated at the institution at any one time. A missile struck the hospital not far from central Kyiv at around 10 am (local time). A large part of the two-storey centre housing the toxicology ward was flattened, while windows were blown out in the main 11-floor building nearby.

Ukraine’s SBU security service said two people had been confirmed killed and 16 wounded at the site. However, rescuers feared that more people could be missing as they continued to pick through the rubble. Footage verified by Reuters showed a missile flying in a steep trajectory towards the hospital grounds at high speed, in what appeared to be a direct hit. Ukraine said the ordnance used in the attack was a Kh-101, a cruise missile which typically carries a 450 kg explosive warhead.

Prez Zelensky said Russia had fired more than 40 missiles at a number of cities, damaging infrastructure, commer- cial and residential buildings.

Moscow’s defence ministry said it had carried out strikes on defence industry targets and aviation bases.

A desperate search and rescue operation was under way at the hospital. Outside the hospital, civilians formed a human chain to help clear the rubble brick by brick. Doctors and others inside the hospital shared images of bloodstained hallways, collapsed ceilings and destroyed operating rooms.

The air force said air defences shot down 30 of 38 incoming missiles. Fifty civilian buildings were damaged in Kyiv, the central cities of Kryvyi Rih and Dnipro and two eastern cities, the interior minister said.

Twenty one people were killed in Kyiv and 65 more wounded in the main missile volley and another strike that came two hours later, emergency services said. Debris from the latter missile hit a different Kyiv hospital, killing seven people, they said. Eleven were confirmed dead in Kryvyi Rih and 47 wounded, the emergency services said. Three people had been killed in the eastern town of Pokrovsk where missiles hit an industrial facility, the regional governor said. One person was also killed in the city of Dnipro, officials said. AGENCIES

France allows extradition of American who sent ‘I raped you’ message to victim on FB

Lyon: A French court ruled on Monday that the American man accused of sexually assaulting a Pennsylvania college student in 2013 and later sending her a Facebook message that said, “So I raped you”, can be extradited to the US.

Ian Cleary, 31, of California, was detained in April in the city of Metz in northeastern France after a three-year search.

The court of appeal in Metz said Cleary can be extradited. When asked if he wished to be extradited or not, in line with French law, Cleary refused, prosecutors said. His refusal may delay the extradition process, but it won’t stop it. Cleary’s case is now the responsibility of the French justice ministry, which must submit the extradition order for the PM.

The arrest warrant accuses Cleary of stalking an 18-year-old Gettysburg College student at a party, sneaking into her dorm and sexually assaulting her while she texted friends for help. He was a 20-yearold Gettysburg student at the time, but didn’t return to campus. The accuser had a rape exam done the same day she was assaulted in 2013. She gathered witnesses and evidence and spent years urging officials to file charges. She went to authorities again in 2021 after discovering the Facebook messages that seemed to come from Cleary’s account. “So I raped you,” the sender had written in a string of messages. “I’ll never do it to anyone ever again.” “I need to hear your voice.” “I’ll pray for you.”

AP

Alice Munro’s daughter says sexually abused by stepdad: ‘She knew & protected him’

Andrea Robin Skinner has said the abuse began when she was 9. She told her mother, Alice Munro, when she was in her 20s but the author decided to stay with Gerald Fremlin. ‘She said that she had been told too late & that she loved him too much’

Andrea Robin Skinner, a daughter of Canadian Nobel laureate Alice Munro’s, said her stepfather sexually abused her as a child — and that her mother knew about it, and chose to stay with him anyway. Skinner, now an adult, detailed these accusations in an essay in Toronto Star on Sunday.

According to a separate article in the Toronto Star, Skinner went to Ontario police, and in 2005, her stepfather, Gerald Fremlin, was charged with indecent assault against her. He pleaded guilty. By then, he was 80 years old. He got a suspended sentence and probation for two years. Munro stayed with him until he died in 2013. Because of her mother’s fame, Skinner wrote, “the silence continued.”

Munro died May 13 at 92.

“What I wanted was some record of the truth, some public proof that I hadn’t deserved what had happened to me,” Skinner wrote of going to police in 2005, about 30 years after the abuse began. “I also wanted this story, my story, to become part of the stories people tell about my mother,” Skinner continued. “...My mother, confronted with the truth of what had happened, chose to stay with, and protect, my abuser.”

Skinner wrote that the abuse began in 1976, when she was 9 and went to visit Fremlin, then in his 50s, and her mother, who was in her 40s. She said he climbed into the bed where she was sleeping and sexually assaulted her. During the next several years, Skinner wrote, Fremlin exposed himself to her in car rides, described her mother’s sexual needs and “told me about the little girls in the neighbourhood he liked.” According to the article in the Toronto Star, he lost interest in Skinner when she became a teenager.

Over time, Munro’s reputation as an author grew. When she died, she was widely considered to be one of the greatest short-story writers of all time. Her work often focused on women in different stages of life. She was awarded Nobel in 2013.

When Skinner was in her 20s, she decided to tell her mother about the abuse she suffered. In a letter, she told her mother what Fremlin had done to her. Rather than responding with sympathy, Skinner said, Munro “reacted exactly as I had feared she would, as if she had learned of an infidelity.” Munro left Fremlin, going to stay at a condo she owned in British Columbia. Fremlin wrote letters to the family, Skinner said, in which he admitted to the abuse but blamed it on her. “He descri- bed my 9-year-old self as a ‘homewrecker’,” Skinner wrote.

Despite all this, Skinner wrote, Munro went back to Fremlin, whom she wed in the 1970s after her first marriage ended, and remained with him for the rest of his life. “She said that she had been ‘told too late’,” she wrote, that “she loved him too much, and that our misogynistic culture was to blame if I expected her to deny her own needs, sacrifice for her children and make up for the failings of men. She was adamant that whatever had happened was between me and my stepfather. It had nothing to do with her.” NYT

AROUND THE WORLD

SUMMER OF EXTREMES IN CHINA: A partially submerged Guanyin temple in floodwaters in the swollen Yangtze River in Hubei. China is enduring a summer of extreme weather, with flooding across central &southern regions as much of the north swelters through heatwaves

Pistols that Napoleon once intended to use to kill himself sell for €1.7m; France objects

Two pistols that Napoleon Bonaparte once intended to use to kill himself were sold in France on Sunday for €1.69 million, the auction house said, with the govt insisting that they stay in the country as national treasures. The identity of the buyer at the auction in Fontainebleau south of Paris was not made public. Ahead of the sale of the weapons, the national treasures commission of the French culture ministry had classified the objects as national treasures and placed a ban on their export. The issuing of the export ban certificate opens a 30-month period during which the French govt can make a purchase offer to the unidentified new owner. A cultural property qualified as a national treasure can leave France only temporarily, with a mandatory return. The pistols are said to have almost been used to end the French ruler’s life in 1814, when he was forced to give up rule after foreign forces defeated his army and occupied Paris. “He wanted to commit suicide with these weapons but his grand squire removed the powder,” an auction house expert said. Napoleon instead took poison but vomited and survived.

Sicily’s only natural lake drying up: A severe drought in Sicily has nearly dried up the Mediterranean island’s only natural lake which has long served as a vital resting station for birds migrating between Africa and Europe. Sicily has suffered months of below average rainfall, with the Italian govt declaring a state of emergency over the crisis. Lake Pergusa, part of a natural reserve close to the central Sicilian town of Enna, has shrunk dramatically because of a lethal mix of hot weather and low rains, scientists said. Sicily has long grappled with climate change-related high temperatures, setting a European heat record in 2021 of 48.8°C.

Times Special

- How ‘tactical voting’ in France helped keep the far-right out

- Mandatory menstrual leave may be counter-productive: SC

- HC relief for TISS student axed for social media post

- SC norms against offending disability depiction in films

How ‘tactical voting’ in France helped keep the far-right out

TOI Explains

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trounced by the right wing in EU polls, French President Emmanuel Macron thrust snap elections on the country and, after the second round of polling on Sunday, it looks like he may have pulled off a stunning turnaround with what was a very risky gamble. The far-right remains the alliance with the highest vote share at 37.3% (higher than its 33.1% in Round 1), but the combined vote share of the centrists and the left works out to over 48%, which pushed the far-right to number 3 from the top.

The First Round

On June 30 France went to polls. This was the first round. Opinion polls had predicted that the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella would come out on top. And it did. The left coalition New Popular Front came second while Macron’s Ensemble Alliance got pushed to third.

This was the first time that a far-right party had surged to the top in France. National Rally had a little over 33% share of votes cast.

The New Popular Front, an alliance of the Socialist Party, Greens, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Unbowed, got a 28% vote share. Macron’s Ensemble managed only 21%.

Two-Round Voting System

In 1958, France established its Fifth Republic, and President Charles de Gaulle introduced the two-round voting system. In constituencies where at least 25% of voters cast their ballot in Round One, the candidate who corners more than half the votes is declared the outright winner. Failing that, every candidate who bags more than 12.5% of all eligible votes remains in the race for the second round, where the winner is the one who secures the majority of votes.

This system provides scope for ‘tactical voting’. Voters whose c andidate doesn’t make it to the runoff may choose to vote for another party (usually to keep the far-right out). Parties also withdraw candidates for the runoff to improve the chances of an ally.

The Second Round

What happened on Sunday, July 7, was a stunning display of ‘tactical voting’ to keep the far-right out. Closer home, think about what happened in Uttar Pradesh in the general elections. Akhilesh Yadav’s SP and Congress joined hands, ensuring in most cases a direct contest between INDIA alliance and BJP. By pooling votes, INDIA managed to win 43 seats, while BJP and its allies were restricted to 36. France on Sunday saw this same script playing out.

So, what changed between June 30 and July 7? After Round 1, when it became clear that National Rally was headed to win anything between 230 and 280 seats in the 577-seat lower House (289 is the majority mark), parties worked on a strategy to form a ‘republican front’ – like an INDIA alliance. Left-wing parties and Macron’s Ensemble pulled out over 200 candidates from the race, converting three-way con- tests into direct fights between far-right and non-farright candidates, whether centrist or left.

As an NYT report said, “Many voters who abhorred the far-right then cast their ballot for whoever was left – even if the candidate was hardly their first choice.”

Voters also turned up in large numbers – pollsters are saying the voting percentage was about 67, the highest since 1997. For many in France, there was a lot at stake in this election: this was about keeping the farright out in a country that had seen German occupation and Vichy rule.

Macron’s Risky Gamble

In elections to the European Parliament on June 9, National Rally secured double the vote share of Macron’s Renaissance party. Macron immediately called for elections to the French parliament.

Pundits saw this as a foolish move. France was scheduled to go to polls next in 2027. So, a snap poll at a time when pollsters were predicting a big lead for the far-right seemed like a very bad idea. And, indeed, after Round 1, it seemed like Macron had committed political harakiri.

But after Round 2, it looks like Macron may have done the smart thing after all by calling for a surprise election just before the Paris Olympics kicks off.

An FT report said, “Negotiations among party chiefs will now determine whether a coalition government can be crafted with an outright majority of 289 seats – or, failing that, a minority government that can survive a no-confidence vote. A fallback option would be a technocratic government led by a non-partisan prime minister until another election can be held next year.”

Mandatory menstrual leave may be counter-productive: SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Supreme Court Monday said making it mandatory for employers to grant menstrual leave could be counter-productive on women’s participation in the workforce, but asked Centre to consider framing a model policy on the issue after consulting states and stakeholders.

Refusing to issue a positive direction to govts to implement menstrual leave for women, the bench led by CJI D Y Chandrachud said, “Since the issue raised multifarious aspects of policy, it may be examined by Centre and states. SC cannot interfere in it.”

When senior advocate Rakesh Khanna said petitioner Shailendra Mani Tripathi’s representation, on the suggestions of SC during the last hearing, had evoked no response from govts, SC said, “If it is made mandatory, then it could discourage employers to engage women workers. It may harm the cause.”

The bench asked additional solicitor general Aishwrya Bhati to request the secretary in ministry of women and child welfare to examine the issue at the policy level after due consultation with stakeholders and state govts.

“Union govt may consider framing a model policy. After consulting stakeholders, it will decide what policy decision is required to be taken on this issue,” SC said and disposed of the PIL.

Tripathy’s petition said, “In spite of provisions in Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, to take care of women in difficult stages of her maternity, the very first stage of maternity, which is the menstrual period, has been knowingly or unknowingly ignored by society, legislature and other stakeholders except few organisations and state govts.”

Erstwhile Soviet Russia had taken a policy decision to pay women who absented from work due to pain during the menstrual period. Japan had enacted a law in this re- gard in 1947. South Korea followed suit in 1953. Few provinces in China have provisioned two-day paid leave for women. Indonesia offers women two days’ leave a month, but they rarely take it as employers perform physical examinations on them before allowing the leave. The UK, Wales, Taiwan and Zambia also provide menstrual leave, the petitioner said.

HC relief for TISS student axed for social media post

Mumbai: A Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) student’s appeal against her rustication has to be decided without mixing it with another complaint of sexual harassment lodged by her against a faculty member, Bombay HC has directed, reports Yogita Rao. HC quashed an order of a TISS appellate authority (AA) that upheld her rustication and directed that the student’s appeal be reconsidered.

Justices A S Chandurkar and Rajesh Patil rapped AA for “travelling beyond the scope of the appeal” and mixing it with another complaint (of sexual harassment) filed by the student. They directed AA to decide the appeal within six weeks. Also, AA will “confine itself” to the student’s challenge against rustication. Proceedings from the student’s sexual harassment complaint will be independently decided, they clarified.

The student was pursuing a management course. Two faculty members complained regarding a social media post allegedly circulated by her husband. Following this, a TISS committee recommended her rustication. She moved HC and was directed to go before AA. Thereafter, told that the committee was not inclined to alter the rustication order, she again moved HC.

SC norms against offending disability depiction in films

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: SC Monday refused to interfere with decisions of Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) allowing public screening of films and documentaries but laid down elaborate guidelines for visual media on eschewing content that disparage and denigrate disability.

A bench of CJI D Y Chandrachud and Justice J B Pardiwala refused to interfere with CBFC’s decision to clear movie ‘Aankh Micholi’ and said the censor board was an expert body to determine the offending nature of a movie’s content towards disabled people and decide whether it was fit for public screening or not.

The CJI, whose judgment was termed as “path-breaking” by Justice Pardiwala in open court, said, “As long as the overall message of the film justifies the depiction of disparaging language being used against persons with disabilities, it cannot be sub- jected to restrictions beyond those placed in Article 19(2). However, language that disparages persons with disabilities, marginalises them further and supplements the disabling barriers in their social participation without the redeeming quality of the overall message of such portrayal, must be approached with caution.”Visual media should strive to depict the diverse realities of persons with disabilities, showcasing not only their challenges but also their successes and contributions to society, SC said.

TIMES VIEW: Film certification should be alive to the sensitivities of the differently abled, but it should not overlook the fact that feature films also need to depict reality. A healthy appreciation of both sides’ point of view and a recognition that overly rigid restrictions could hamper creative expression would be fundamental to making this proposal a success.

Times Business

- Tata Group airlines’ mergers get approval from regulator DGCA

- Accenture buys fab design co Excelmax

- Merc to tap 1st-time luxury car buyers

- Microfin pitch for ‘responsible lending’

- Xiaomi eyes doubling shipments to India

- Budget set to focus on long-term eco vision: Report

- Govt to settle PLI claims quarterly

- Rural engine starting to fire for FMCG, aids growth in Q1

- Life insurers’ new biz grows 23% in June qtr

- BoB stock slips 4% on slower deposit growth

- Former defence secy raises `250cr VC fund

- NFRA, IICA join hands to launch training modules

- Santoor maker’s eyes on rains, food inflation

- Govt should cut PSB stake: SBI economists

- Boeing to plead guilty in probe of 737 MAX crashes

- Prices of used trucks surge as stressed logistics cos cut costs

Tata Group airlines’ mergers get approval from regulator DGCA

New Delhi: The Tata Group on Monday got aviation regulator DGCA’s nod for merging Vistara into Air India and erstwhile AirAsia India into AI Express. Now, only the nod for foreign investment by partner Singapore Airlines into AI is needed to meet the target of completing the integration by the year-end. With this, the group says it has “concluded the harmonisation of operating procedures across its key functions.” Air India (Vistara merged into it) will be the full service carrier and AI Express (the other airline merged into it) will be its low-cost arm.

TNN

Accenture buys fab design co Excelmax

Bengaluru: Accenture has acquired Excelmax Tech, a semiconductor design services provider, for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition strengthens Accenture’s growing silicon design and engineering capabilities. Excelmax provides custom silicon solutions.

TNN

Merc to tap 1st-time luxury car buyers

Mercedes-Benz India is looking at electric entry-level models to attract first-time luxury car buyers, as it sets eyes on another double-digit growth this year, its MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said. The company launched all-electric entry SUV EQA 250 at an introductory price of Rs 66 lakh.

AGENCIES

Microfin pitch for ‘responsible lending’

Mumbai: The self-regulatory organisation for microfinance sector, MFIN, is pitching for ‘responsible lending’. Key measures include assessing borrower income and repayment obligations and capping loan repayment obligations at 50% of income.

TNN

Xiaomi eyes doubling shipments to India

Bengaluru: Xiaomi plans to double its device shipments to India, aiming to surpass 70 crore units over the next 10 years. The company, which has shipped 35 crore devices, including 25 crore smartphones, plans to achieve this growth.

TNN

Budget set to focus on long-term eco vision: Report

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:Govt will use the Budget as an opportunity to make a big picture statement about the long-term economic policy vision over the next several years, rather than minor stimulus announcements, Goldman Sachs economists said in a report on Monday.

“We think this Budget will go beyond just fiscal numbers, and likely make an overarching statement about long-term economic policy of govt towards 2047 (100 years of Indian independence),” the report said.

“We see an emphasis on job creation through labour-intensive manufacturing, credit for MSMEs, continued focus on services exports by expanding GCCs, and a thrust on domestic food supply chain and inventory management to control price volatility. The Budget is also likely to lay out a path for the future of public finance in India, entailing: a roadmap for public debt sustainability, and b) green finance: the role of public finance in balancing India’s energy security Vs transition needs,” according to the report titled ‘India’s Fiscal policy: Union Budget preview: Beyond the numbers’.

The economists said they expect the general govt to stick to the announced fiscal deficit target of 5.1% of GDP for FY25 (or even slightly lower) and announce further consolidation to a deficit of below 4.5% of GDP by FY26. “Even if we see some expenditure allocation towards welfare spending, it may not require a reduction in capex given the higher than expected dividend transfer from the RBI,” said the report.

White Goods Window Reopens

Govt to settle PLI claims quarterly

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:Govt on Monday said it has decided to settle production-linked incentive claims on a quarterly basis, instead of annually, as it reopened the application window for the scheme for white goods, focusing on ACs and LED lights.

The change in claim settlement policy, which has been incorporated in the proposed scheme, is meant to ensure adequate “liquidity” for the manufacturers who have often complained of delay in payments from govt.

The application window for ACs and LED lights will remain open from July 15 to Oct 12, the department for promotion of industry and internal trade said in a statement, seeking to provide a fresh opportunity under the scheme to prospective manufacturers.

The reopened window allows both new applicants and existing beneficiaries to apply. Existing beneficiaries can switch to a higher target segment.They can apply under different target segments, an official statement said.

Rural engine starting to fire for FMCG, aids growth in Q1

Volumes Inch Up Even As Industry Awaits Monsoon Boost

Asmita.Dey@timesofindia.com

Mumbai: Rural demand which has been showing signs of revival has sustained through the June quarter, boding well for fast moving consumer goods companies.

In their updates for Q1FY25, Dabur, Marico and Adani Wilmar hinted at improving volume growth, helped by demand recovery.

Rural demand, which had been lagging for several quarters, on the back of patchy monsoon rains in key agricultural regions picked up pace in the March quarter, surpassing urban demand for the first time in at least two years, estimates released by NielsenIQ showed.

Analysts expect the trend to have sustained through Q1. Rural consumption is moderate at the moment but the monsoons will give it a fillip; also what is helping is aggressive expansion of rural distribution by players like Nestle and Dabur, widening coverage of villages, said Akshay D’souza, chief of growth and insights at retail intelligence platform Bizom.

Dabur expects its India business to record a mid-single digit volume growth. “The quarter saw sequential improvement in demand trends with rural growth picking up. With forecast of a normal monsoon and continued focus by govt on macro-economic growth, we expect the improvement to accelerate in the coming months,” the company said.

Marico said that the domestic business posted a “modest” uptick in underlying volume growth on a sequential basis in the June quarter despite the value added hair oils category getting impacted due to “competitive headwinds” in the bottom-of-thepyramid segment.

The maker of Parachute Coconut Oil and Saffola Oats said that demand trends continued to exhibit gradual improvement and the firm’s consolidated revenue growth is expected to trend upwards during the year on the back of an improving trajectory in domestic volume growth and higher realisations due to the favourable pricing cycle in key domestic portfolios.

Parle Products expects strong growth coming in from rural regions this fi- scal year. “Since Jan-Feb, which also coincided with good harvest of rabi crop, we have seen a revival in rural demand. Good monsoons will only help in sustaining the demand momentum,” said Mayank Shah, vice-president at Parle Products. “

Adani Wilmar is eyeing 13% year-on-year volume growth in Q1FY25. The firm hopes to maintain its string growth rate in FY25 helped by revival in rural consumption and robust urban demand, it said in its annual report.

“Adequate rainfall is crucial for agriculture, the backbone of rural livelihoods and can significantly boost crop production leading to increased income for farmers and overall rural prosperity. However, regional variations in rainfall could affect crop yields,” said Varun Berry, MD and vice-chairman at Britannia Industries. Crisil estimates the FMCG sector to see a revenue growth of 7-9% in FY25 against 5-7% growth in FY24, helped in parts by revival of rural demand.

Life insurers’ new biz grows 23% in June qtr

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: The life insurance industry recorded a new business premium of Rs 89,726 crore for the quarter ended June 2024, an increase of 23% over the corresponding quarter in the previous year.

The increase in premium was driven by LIC, which grew 28% with a new business premium of Rs 57,440 crore and accounts for nearly 64% of the industry’s new business premium.

Among large private companies, the highest growth was recorded by Aditya Birla Sun Life and ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, which grew 38.7% and 23.5%, respectively. HDFC Life recorded a 9% growth. Last fiscal, private life insurers had a subdued first quarter because many sales got bunched up in March 2023 because of a new tax on high value policies with premiums over Rs 5 lakh from FY24.

BoB stock slips 4% on slower deposit growth

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai: Shares of Bank of Baroda fell by over 4% on Monday after the public sector lender reported less-than expected business growth. The weak numbers, following HDFC Bank’s report of a drop in loans and low-cost deposits in Q1FY25, dragged down other bank stocks as well.

Bank of Baroda reported a 5.3% year-on-year increase in deposits, which stood at Rs 11 lakh crore at the end of the quarter. The deposit growth outpaced its 8.5% increase in domestic advances, which stood at Rs 8.9 lakh at the end of the quarter. According to a report by Macquarie, based on the banks that have reported their business numbers so far, public sector banks have reported 0.3 % growth in deposits quarter-on-quarter and 8.7% year-on-year, while for private banks, it was 0.6% and 15.8%, respectively..

Former defence secy raises `250cr VC fund

Ajay Kumar has company from other exdefence honchos who come in as advisers, including retired Air Force chief R K S Bhadauria

Pankaj.Doval@timesofindia.com

New Delhi:From spearheading corridors of power and scripting the country’s policy narrative to migrating to world of venture capital and finance, Ajay Kumar — former defence secretary— is all set to don the hat of a money-making finance professional.

Kumar, who retired from the defence ministry in Oct 2022 and was previously additional secretary in the IT ministry, has company from other former defence honchos who come in as advisers, including retired Indian Air Force chief R K S Bhadauria, former Indian Navy vice chief S N Ghormade and retired electronics and mechanical engineers (EME) director-general Lt. Gen Anil Kapur.

Kumar is chairman of the venture capital firm Mo- unttech Growth Fund, which in its first round called Kavach, has already raised in excess of Rs 250 crore to invest in startups working in the field of defence, deeptech, aerospace, and space. “People think bureaucrats can’t do anything except pushing files… I am eager to see how we perform in the cut-throat world of finance and startups,” Kumar told TOI when asked about the venture.

Kumar says he has completed the mandated “cooling off” period after retirement from the high-profile govt assignments. Asked whether he feels nervous in the new role, he concedes that it can be challenging. “There is a always a first time for everything… It is my second innings and it is a new area… Along with the teams, I have to take care of investments, mobilisation, deployment, and thereafter also create value for the fund.”

However, he adds that startups and supporting and mentoring strategic ventures is something which has been very close to his heart. “I believe in the startup ecosystem… I am also mentoring several startups personally even now. I always felt that there is a huge need for a focused fund which can be available for startups, which are genuinely doing good work and creating value for themselves, the country, and investors.”

For Auditors & Accountants

NFRA, IICA join hands to launch training modules

Sidhartha@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: In a first, the National Financial Report Authority (NFRA), the regulator for auditors and audit firms for large and listed companies and Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) are joining hands to launch training modules for accountants and auditors as well as independent directors dealing with “public interest companies”.

The courses will be counted in the continuing professional learning exercise for chartered accountants, something that was hitherto the exclusive domain of their professional body Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. The development comes at a time when NFRA has taken charge of the regulatory and disciplining system for public interest companies as govt was of the view that the process followed by ICAI was slow and often auditors got away even for major violations.

So far NFRA has acted against auditors of several companies including IL&FS, Cafe Coffee Day and Reliance Capital, which was once controlled by Anil Ambani and was bankrupt.

The idea is to ensure that the auditors and independent directors are adequately prepared to deal with large companies where there is a large pool of shareholders and at the same time, aided by the new tools, are also able to meet the requirements of global companies and audit firms.

According to the plan drawn up by NFRA and IICA, courses for auditors and accountants will be for nine months and will be an online training module, requiring classes two-three days every week. The course duration for independent directors is expected to be shorter, possibly for three-six months. The entire process is not going to be made mandatory.

The two govt agencies intend to rope in top CAs, industry representatives as well as experts from other countries, including from bodies such as NFRA, to help with the training modules. The courses follow as the continuous learning exercise mandated by ICAI is also seen to be awarding points for activities, which are not always adding value.

Santoor maker’s eyes on rains, food inflation

Shilpa.Phadnis@timesofindia.com

Bengaluru:Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting’s revenue grew 3% to Rs 10,300 crore in FY24 — the lowest in recent years. However, its CEO Vineet Agrawal remains optimistic. He sees a revival in rural demand, an uptick in its international business, and growth in Santoor and Yardley brands.

“We’re not guiding numbers. But what we are guiding on is that we will grow the fastest in the industry. So that’s something that, irrespective of the environment, is good be- cause we will do better than all our competitors. And even if the environment is bad, then we should do better than our competition,” he told TOI.

Agrawal said that the previous year was challenging from a revenue growth perspective, but the company’s profits improved. “There have been times when the demand has been difficult, and the market is not supportive. We don’t believe it’s gloom and doom. We’re just hoping that the monsoon is good and food inflation doesn’t get out of hand,” he added.

He said that building a war chest for the future is crucial during such times. Drawing parallels to past events like demonetisation and GST implementation, which temporarily disrupted the mar- ket, Agrawal expressed confidence in the industry’s resilience and adaptability.

WCCL’s portfolio includes personal and home care products, domestic and commercial lighting, and a recent foray into the foods business. The company’s flagship brand, Santoor, achieved Rs 2,700 crore in revenue in the 2023-24 financial year, up from Rs 2,300 crore in the 2021-22 financial year. Similarly, its heritage brand Yardley grew to Rs 268 crore from from Rs 186 crore during the same period.

Agrawal expressed confidence in the demand outlook, noting that April and May have exceeded expectations and performed better than the previous year, despite challenges posed by extreme heat and elections.

“In fact, we were not expecting it to be good because of the extreme heat. This time it’s been very hot, and retailers don’t go to the wholesalers to buy, especially from small towns and rural areas. From a wholesale perspective, there are some customers who still carry cash, and during elections, since there were many checks conducted, purchase decisions tend to get postponed.”

RUN-UP TO THE BUDGET

Govt should cut PSB stake: SBI economists

Report Cites ‘Good Fin Health’, Pushes For Consolidation Too

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:A fortnight ahead of the Union Budget, a research report released by the country’s largest public sector bank has proposed that govt pare its stake in public sector banks given the positive impact of their ‘good financial health’ on valuations. The report also called for consolidation in the number of PSU banks.

While a recommendation for govt to divest stake in PSU banks is a standard suggestion from management consultancy firms or industry associations, it is considered a radical recommendation for PSU report.

In a report containing pre-Budget recommendations, SBI Economics Department, headed by group chief economic adviser Soumya Kanti Ghosh, has suggested multiple reforms for PSU banks, including reduction of ownership stake, HR autonomy, investments in digital & IT infrastructure and aligning the priority sector framework to the nation’s priorities. “As banks are in good condition, govt should take stance on disinvestment of PSBs,” the report said.

The report also calls for clarification on govt on the stake divestment in IDBI Bank. “Govt and LIC are selling an almost 61% stake in IDBI Bank. They invited bids from buyers in Oct 2022. In Jan 2023, DIPAM received several expressions of interest for the IDBI Bank stake on offer. We expect govt to clarify this in the Budget,” the report said. The report also calls for bank fixed deposits achieving tax parity with other asset classes.

“The present dispensation for equity/mutual fund holdings stipulates a short term capital gains tax at a flat rate of 15%, while long- term capital gains are taxed at a moderate 10%, with an exemption allowed for income of LTCG up to Rs 1 lakh during a fiscal year. Additionally, the setting-off of losses against profits and carrying over the loss for up to the next eight years makes the opportunity cost of such alternative investments quite lucrative,” the report said. It added that govt should tweak the tax on deposit interest and implement a flat tax treatment across the maturity ladder.

The report comes at a time when the IDBI Bank sale process is stuck because of RBI not granting ‘fit and proper’ recognition to any bidder. Govt has not managed to sell IDBI Bank despite the lender being re-classified as a private bank in March 2019.

Boeing to plead guilty in probe of 737 MAX crashes

UP TO $487MN FINE

Boeing will plead guilty to criminal conspiracy in connection with two fatal crashes of its 737 Max jetliner, an agreement that disgraces the storied US planemaker as a felon but avoids a bruising courtroom confrontation as it tries to rebound from multiple crises.

Under the agreement with US prosecutors, Boeing faces a criminal fine of as much as $487 million — the maximum allowed by law — though the actual amount will be determined by a judge, according to the Justice Department. The DOJ asked the judge to credit Boeing for the prior fine it paid, which would bring the new penalty down to $244 million, if approved.

The company will install a corporate monitor and be required to spend at least $455 million to bolster its compliance and safety programs over the next three years as part of the deal, which requires court approval. It would also be subject to a period of court supervised probation.

The Justice Department determined in May that Boeing breached a 2021 deferred-prosecution agreement tied to the crashes that was struck in the waning days of the Trump Administration. That followed the blowout of a fuselage panel on a 737 Max 9 on Jan 5, just days before the deal was set to expire.

The guilty plea marks a low point in the company’s century-long history after years of turmoil sparked by two crashes of its 737 Max aircraft in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people. The agreement also has the potential to complicate Boeing’s interaction with govt as a major defence contractor. The deal also stands to spare Boeing from the distraction of a criminal trial.

BLOOMBERG

Prices of used trucks surge as stressed logistics cos cut costs

40% CHEAPER THAN NEW

Nandini.Sengupta@timesofindia.com

Chennai: Used truck prices have seen a sharp uptick year-on-year with light commercial vehicles seeing high double-digit growth.

Vehicles in the 1.5 to 2 tonne segment saw a 38% jump in prices in the used vehicle market, the Shriram Mobility Bulletin showed. The 2 to 3.5 tonne segment was up 22% and the 3.5 to 7.5 tonne segment was up 21%. The only other segment to clock higher price hikes was the 31 to 36 tonne category but, said truck marketers, this is more a skew given how few of the higher GVW (gross vehicle weight) trucks get repossessed.

“In the last one year in the smaller tonnage segment, the unorganised fleet used for in- ter and intra city logistics has been moving increasingly from new trucks to used. This is happening because of price increases and some stress in the logistics market since the freight rate increases have not been as consistent of late as in the past. So smaller unorganised fleet operators have to rely on cost reduction and used trucks are 40% cheaper than new,” said Ashutosh Pandey, CEO, Mahindra First Choice Wheels.

According to used truck marketers, the trend towards used trucks has been visible for nearly two years now. “Over the past two years, prices for all types of used commercial vehicles, whether BS IV or BS VI, have increased 25-30%,” said a Shriram Finance spokesman. “The subdued sales during 2019-22 have resulted in a shortage of supply in the used truck market.” With new vehicle prices still on the rise, the used truck market is experiencing significant traction and prices for used vehicles are expected to remain strong. The current batch of new trucks (comprising one or two year old vehicles) will be available after a few years in the pre-owned segment. “This could potentially drive sustained growth in the used vehicle segment,” he added.

Editorial

- Oui The People

- LUI Tragedies

- Bieber’s boxers

- The Bahá’i Vision For Global Civilisation

- Questions French Voters Asked

- What Our Champion Cricketers Can Teach Us

- A thought for today

- Sacred space

Oui The People

France’s dramatic election shows the virtues of coalition dharma when faced with threat to core democratic values

French talk of French exceptionalism is food for many jokes around the world. But their dramatic parliamentary elections suggest there is indeed something je ne sais quoi different about them. In the first round it looked like Macron was a total mug for calling snap elections. And that Marine Le Pen’s decade-long ‘de-demonisation’ rebranding would now deliver France its first far-right govt since World War II. Instead, a front républicain has put a sensational, last-minute pause on that scenario.

Extreme screams | The way in which centrists and leftists came together to hold the far-right at bay, has been called horse-trading. But that’s an unfair label for a tactical voting pact that involved unusual levels of sacrifice. More than 200 candidates pulled out of the runoff, to help consolidate the anti-far-right vote. In India, of course, we well know the positive possibilities of coalition politics, including its check on both rightwing and leftwing extremes.

Running a coalition may be no easier than building it. It may be a laborious and fractious process. But the extensive consultations between different parties that it necessitates, can mean that the agreements have broader legitimacy not just across the aisle, but also across the country.

India’s own parliamentary elections have given a solid thumbs-up to coalition politics. BJP couldn’t have formed govt without its allies. Nor would Congress revival have been as substantive, without agonising compromises with its allies. Results like Uttar Pradesh’s also underline how the cobbling of successful coalitions can mean that little-known but deep grievances get recognised.

Together bellwethers | It’s also a fact that despite a record turnout for the final election, no party has an outright majority in France. This will mean a period of uncertainty, perhaps extending to the Olympics. Some of the elements on the far-left are also dodgy. Mélenchon, for example, has refused to call Hamas a terrorist organisation and flirts with antisemitism. A new govt will feel pressure from these even as the far-right keeps gnawing at it. Through all this, though, what will continue to give legitimacy to the anti-far-right coalition is that it has been supported by a solid French majority. No rebranding can disguise that Le Pen’s party’s core appeal lies in scapegoating minorities and migrants. It is because this toxic vision is on the rise elsewhere too, that the world’s following all the French election drama, closely and seriously.

LUI Tragedies

Law (Enforcement) Under Influence: that’s what tends to happen when rich/powerful drive drunk

Weeks after the terrible Porsche accident in Pune, a BMW driven by an allegedly drunk son of a Shiv Sena senior has claimed a life in Mumbai. Unlike Pune police, Mumbai police has acted swiftly and made arrests. However, the prime accused remains at large. Cops must not let his VIP son status get in the way of nabbing him and fast-tracking investigations.

Culture of impunity | But similarities in such accidents are too glaring to be missed: young men from powerful or wealthy families driving high-powered cars under the influence, often with fatal consequences for innocents. For instance, May saw three other accidents involving luxury cars, besides the Pune one. That power, hard or soft, has a role to play here is evident from Bengaluru’s example. Despite witnessing several such crashes involving influential drivers over the last decade, it has witnessed conviction in just one case.

The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 introduced a steep hike in fines for drunk driving. The newly introduced BNS’s Section106 has raised the punishment for acts of negligence that lead to death – to five years’ RI. But who is going to ensure these laws’ effective implementation?

Lax enforcement | As things stand, a bribe to cops on duty is often all it takes for drunk drivers to get away. And in case of a serious accident, there is an entire system that connives to protect the powerful and wealthy, as was made evident by the Pune episode. As many as 1,68,491 lives were lost due to road accidents in India in 2022. And, per official data, 1,503 of those were due to drunk driving. Our new rules and laws are still not stringent enough by first world standards. But, more important, it is their shoddy implementation that leads to road tragedies like the one in Mumbai.

Bieber’s boxers

Every Indian male is Captain Underpants at heart

Shinie Antony

Fashion may have begun with bark, foliage and animal skin as a simple matter of modesty and keeping warm, but is today a zillion-dollar industry with bling, bangs and thongs. Much before the first supermodel lifted an anorexic ankle to catwalk down Paris, Milan and London ramps, desi fashionistas dabbled in ghungats, pallus, aanchals and dupattas. For the prim and proper Indian men there was always the baniyan, which they wore under everything like a second skin. At roughly the time women adopted nighty as the national costume, sleeveless vests and large underpants became the go-to couture for men. They have been loitering in public spaces since then with their lower half decorated in floral prints, stripes or large checks.

Which is why Justin Bieber’s performance at a recent sangeet in a ganji and peeping boxers so warmed the Indian heart. In the pics that followed, there he is, standing next to a brightly festive lot, in a state of undress. Victoria’s Secret may have tried to replace granny pants with G strings and elevated bras to bralettes and bustiers, and skorts may well catch on, but the day Bieber almost mooned us is when lingerie became evening wear.

Till the invention of sewing machines, unstitched garments were the norm. Old Bollywood widows who cleverly rid themselves of their kids in a mela – to reunite only when the latter were adults with monthly incomes – draped themselves in white saris. Ditto female ghosts who sang their high-pitched songs in old havelis. While heroines wore thin chiffon saris on snowy mountains, heroes bundled up in sweaters and jackets. Then came Madonna’s cone bras, Britney Spears’ corsets, Lady Gaga’s meat dress and the safety-pin gown of Elizabeth Hurley. Zendaya’s see-through bot suit, Jared Leto dressed as Karl Lagerfeld’s cat at the Met Gala, Salman Khan’s Dragon Ball Z pants, Akshata Murty’s choice of stripes in her bye-bye appearance…Wardrobes go viral.

With bracelets shaped as Sellotape and high-end pouches styled on garbage bags, trends rush in where mortals fear to tread. The one sustaining style statement across the country, however, has been its insistence on underwear as outerwear; every Indian is a Captain Underpants at heart. And Bieber has brought the chaddi to page 3. Indian men who traditionally team up monkey caps with their baniyan now feel ready to take on the world of high fashion.

The Speaking Tree

The Bahá’i Vision For Global Civilisation

Dr AK Merchant

We remember many outstanding people’s lives, services, and sacrifices every year. Among them is the prophet of the Bahá’i Faith, known as the Báb, which means the gate.

During the six years of his divine mission, the Báb had convinced thousands throughout West Asia that according to the sacred scriptures of all past religions, he had come to prepare the way for the advent of Bahá’u’lláh, the promised one, who would manifest in 1863 and inaugurate an era of righteousness and peace, the era of the ‘planetisation of humankind’.

Even a cursory review of the happenings and events of the past 150 years would convince a sincere seeker that tremendous power is released when a human being sacrifices something for the benefit of humanity motivated by the virtues of the Divine.

A practical example we observe in nature is a seed and the mighty tree. Not until a seed completely disintegrates under the soil can it produce a tree. It is then that an object as insignificant as a seed, by sacrificing itself completely, will be transformed into a mighty tree with branches, fruits and flowers.

The nearly eight-millionstrong Bahá’i community is acutely aware of the most perilous hour in human history. How should we address the grave civilisational crises? What is our purpose here on earth? Why did the Báb and the thousands who followed him without fear of persecution and death uphold the truth of His message? The history of humankind presents us with many soul-stirring episodes of supreme sacrifice. In like manner, the Báb responded to the organised forces of his enemies in Iran. Whether in the life of the individual or that of society, profound transformation calls for intense suffering.

Whatever our planet’s future, Bahá’ís believe that human beings, the most intelligent of all living creatures, are part of the larger scheme of things as conceived by the Creator. There are five critical elements in the writings of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh: (i) the oneness of humankind whereby all the peoples would have to shed their lesser identities and regard themselves as citizens of the world (ii) the rise of the feminine, namely the spread of women power who would successfully banish wars and conflicts (iii) the spiritualisation of technology that would enable individuals, institutions and communities to harness its full potential for the betterment of life on earth (iv) a new pattern of education that would allow for universal accessibility of knowledge, generation of new knowledge and its application for solving the manifold challenges now afflicting the globe (v) the emergence of global governance system whereby individuals serving on a wide range of institutions responsible for managing the affairs of the society, the nation, severally or collectively, would be true servants of humankind. To this end, Bahá’ís around the globe, in a wide range of settings, are striving, inviting their fellow human beings to build a spiritually and materially prospering world civilisation.

The author is secretary, Bahá’i Spiritual Assembly of Delhi NCT

Questions French Voters Asked

Yes, far-right was kept out of govt. But can mainstream parties work together to govern? Do they realise centralisation weakens democracies? That mimicking extremist politics is dangerous?

Gilles Verniers

Snap elections to France’s National Assembly resulted in a hung parliament and a defeat of the far-right, which, just a week ago, delivered a historic performance in the first round of the legislative polls. Institutional and political barriers have stood, but barely. National Rally (NR) scored its best performance in National Assembly (135 seats), emerging as the first party in terms of votes (32%).

After the withdrawal of 220 candidates between the two rounds, held on June 30 and July 7, NR stood in 29 triangular contests and won 10 of them. That it won most of its seats in bipolar contests attests to the deepening of its support in French national politics. The good news is that despite such relative success, most French voters rejected the idea of the far-right in office. Most continue to see it for what it is: a racist, xenophobic, antisemitic party with a tainted history. A party which, during the campaign, raised doubts, among other things, about millions of French binationals’ loyalty to the state.

The political landscape, however, remains fragmented between blocs that show no signs of wanting to work together to form a new govt. A minimum of seven parties need to come together to obtain a majority in parliament without NR. The centrist bloc, led by Macron’s party Renaissance (‘Rebirth’), has made it clear that it won’t enter an alliance that includes Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s very leftwing France Unbowed, which has been the president’s constant critic. The remaining right parties adhere to this ‘neither NR nor Mélenchon’ position.

On the other hand, France Unbowed insists it won the election, if not in numbers, at least morally. That a govt minus the recently created New Popular Front wouldn’t be legitimate. In the meantime, NR delights in the spectacle of a divided political elite.

It would be easy to blame France’s woes on political fragmentation. But French parties can’t work with each other because of two different reasons. First, they are used to bipartism and ideological polarisation. Second, political centralisation under Macron’s presidency has shrunk space for negotiations.

France’s long-standing left-right divide has undergone deep reconfiguration in recent times. While Macron attempted to create a strong centre organised around him, he failed to build a durable political organisation that could sustain it. This election reveals that ideological differences between parties remain deep, which push them to adopt maximalist positions.

After losing his majority in 2022, Macron’s minority govt pushed controversial legislation through a constitutional mechanism that enables it to bypass parliament. The routinisation of this technique removed the leverage opposition parties hoped to have after calling their supporters to support Macron in successive presidential elections against the far-right. In short, parties (and voters) who supported Macron to prevent the far-right from taking the reins got nothing in return. Acrimony that characterises French domestic politics intensified.

This situation is not unique to France, and it bears lessons. First, political centralisation divides countries, especially when it comes at the cost of representative institutions. The political climate tends to be more temperate when power is shared between political forces that negotiate and cooperate within a functioning parliament.

France can now renew its acquaintance with parliamentary governance, provided key players agree to play by the rules. These include, among other things, willingness to debate, discuss, negotiate, and ultimately compromise, to produce legislation that may not satisfy entirely anyone but that, at least, doesn’t pit parties and people into toxic binary confrontations.

In this election, the left led the way by putting aside its differences to create an effective alliance that defeated the far-right in many seats. Whether this alliance survives remains to be seen. Attempts will be made by other parties, including the president’s, to split it.

The other lesson is that the meaning of electoral mandates gets blurred when voters engage in tactical voting to either punish an incumbent, as happened in UK recently, or to prevent a catastrophe – like the far-right in power. In the French two-round system, MPs are elected with votes that went to their opponents in the first round. Many New Popular Front candidates were elected with the support of centrist or right-leaning voters, who sought to prevent the election of a far-right candidate and vice versa. Electoral outcomes are, therefore, shaped as much by what voters wish to avoid as they are about parties and manifestos. This should create an obligation from representatives and party brass – who owe their share of power to other parties’ supporters – to at least try to work together.

The most important lesson is that far-right success is propelled by a legitimacy deficit of democratic political forces. These often mimic the far-right’s positions and ideas to retrieve voters who have drifted towards the far-right.

As the Tories in UK recently discovered, far-right mimicry leads voters to support the original rather than the copy. Regaining control of the terms of public debate, and not letting their contours get drawn by the far-right, would be a good place for mainstream parties to regain credibility and legitimacy.

The writer is Karl Loewenstein Fellow and Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science at Amherst College. Views are personal

What Our Champion Cricketers Can Teach Us

● Being good enough isn’t enough ● Beat others at their own game ● Teamwork before ego ● Merit over connections ● Be humble

Krishnamurthy Subramanian

Seeing the happiness over India’s T20 World Cup victory pouring in the streets of Mumbai, I am motivated to reflect and ask: What can we all learn from our cricket team? As every Indian follows cricket so diligently, it’s apt to imbibe lessons from the game.

The first and foremost lesson to imbibe is that of mindset. India were terrible travellers in the 1990s because that cricket team had the mindset that winning in India on tailormade pitches was good enough. In contrast, every team that has followed since then, from Ganguly’s to Dhoni’s, Kohli’s and Rohit’s, has prioritised winning abroad. So, the key change after the 1990s era was the aspiration that “Good enough is not enough! We must be the best in the world.”

The foremost lesson – especially for India Inc – to imbibe is: Aspire to be the best in the world. Can you name one Indian product that anyone anywhere in the world would certainly know of? A Windows, or an Apple, or an Amazon is a household name across the world. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos, who created these products, are also ordinary humans, but with an extraordinary mindset: to be the best in the world. As we expect the Indian team to beat the best in the world in their own shores, our industrialists must develop the same mindset: to be known across the world for their products and services.

We all can learn from the clash of egos between Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi in the Pakistan cricket team leading to ruins. In contrast, despite their egos, Virat and Rohit coordinated to work for India’s cause. They displayed the maturity to realise that Team India’s glory will bring them individual glory and not the other way around. Similarly, despite all the odds and the turmoil engulfing them back home, the Afghanistan team surprised everyone by reaching the World Cup semifinals. In fact, the Afghans ably demonstrated that “where there is a will, there is a way” is a cliché only because it is almost always true.

The contrast between the Indian and Afghanistan teams, on the one hand, and the Pakistani team, on the other hand, is thus instructive. In good teams, each stakeholder is willing to show the mirror to himself, thereby putting the focus on himself to improve his performance. When everyone focuses on his/her improvement without wasting time lamenting about what others are doing, not only does every component of the team improve, but also the meritocratic culture enables the whole to become bigger than the sum of parts.

Like our cricketers, in all other fields India must cultivate skilled patriots who not only work hard to hone their expertise but also display the maturity to rise above their differences for the larger national cause. Here, Rahul Dravid, who has always placed the team’s interest as paramount, must become a beacon of inspiration for all other Indians.

Every Indian cricketer today makes it to the Indian team purely on merit. As every cricketer today is born in a poor or middle-class family, they reach the pinnacle by honing their talent with hours and hours of unsparing hard work. Our cricketers thus live the credo of “God helps those who help themselves.” Our youngsters must, therefore, learn the importance of unrelenting hard work by observing our champion cricketers.

Yet, in their moment of triumph, the cricketers also display the humility to acknowledge that hard work is only necessary for success, not sufficient. Such humility enables one to tide over the vicissitudes of life.

I hope that a generation of youngsters – especially those appearing in competitive exams – learns that failure is just an event that can lead to success provided one takes the right lessons: “Get up after a fall, dust yourself and work hard again!” For every Nov 19, 2023 (ODI World Cup final), there can be a June 29, 2024 (T20 World Cup final) if one imbibes the right lessons.

The cynic would dismiss any/all of these lessons by retorting that our cricketers cannot be compared to others. The cynic must remember that our cricketers make it to the Indian team purely on merit. Of 200mn aspiring youngsters, about 20 get that privilege. Should we grudge the top 0.00001% deservedly earning in millions? No! But the passion to win the World Cup is motivated not by money but by the desire to leave an unmatched legacy – a motivation common across all professions.

As with cricket, so with any other profession. As the book Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin illuminates, champions become champions because their mindset is different! For India to realise its unmatched potential in the next few decades, all of India must develop the champion’s mindset that we so unforgivingly demand from the Indian cricket team.

The writer is an executive director, IMF

A thought for today

History has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take a life of its own

MICHELLE OBAMA

Sacred space

People normally cut reality into compartments and so are unable to see the interdependence of all phenomena. To see one in all and all in one is to break through the great barrier which narrows one’s perception of reality.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Times Sport

- ‘Hungry’ Canada ready for Argentina battle in semis

- DAZZLE OR BE DOUR

- Rodriguez is Colombia’s main man, once again

- CLASSIC CLASHES

- FRANCE PLAYERS CELEBRATE LEFTIST WIN AT ELECTIONS

- REF FOR ENG-NED WAS ONCE BANNED FOR ‘FIXING’ TIES

- Jyothi looks to hurdle past obstacles in Paris

- Sindhu named flagbearer, Narang is chef de mission

- ASHWIN BUYS TEAM IN GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE

- Musetti gets the better of big-serving Perricard

- Sun basks in the limelight

- GALLERY

- Svitolina wears black ribbon after Ukraine hospital attack

- JAYASURIYA NAMED SRI LANKA’S INTERIM COACH AHEAD OF SERIES AGAINST INDIA

- THE YUVI-ABHI CONNECTION

- Anderson has ‘made peace’ with England retirement ahead of final Test

‘Hungry’ Canada ready for Argentina battle in semis

Marsch’s boys, who lost 0-2 in the opening group game against Messi & Co, are not short on confidence

MESSI

Miami: The Copa America is down to the final four with a pair of fascinating semi-finals and favourites Argentina hoping they can win their third straight major title.

The Argentines, world champions and defending Copa title holders, open the semis action when they face surprise package Canada on Tuesday in New Jersey. Then on Wednesday in Charlotte, Uruguay will Colombia.

Argentina needed penalty shootout heroics from their goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to get past Ecuador in the last eight and while Lionel Scaloni’s team have yet to really hit top gear they start as clear favourites against Canada.

American coach Jesse Marsch has made an instant impact with Canada, taking over in mid-May and quickly implementing his high-energy, pressing style to great effect.

Marsch, who was reported to be close to taking over as USA coach before the decision last year to re-hire Gregg Berhalter, has had the last laugh as his team have produced a memorable run to the last four while the Americans failed to get out of their group.

Canada got past a Venezuela team that had won all three of their group stage games, winning on penalties at the end of a pulsating encounter on Friday. However, they know that Lionel Messi and Argentina represent a very different proposition.

The teams met in the opening group game of the tournament with Argentina winning 2-0, but there is no shortage of confidence in Marsch’s team. “It’s going to take everything,” said Bayern Munich wing-back Alphonso Davies.

“Going into this game, we know what’s on the line. We win and go forward, we lose and go home. They’re going to come out with everything. We’re hungrier than ever, we expect a battle -as they should,” he said.

Three of the four quarter-finals were decided on penalties, but Marsch insists his team will play their usual attacking style.

“The game against Argentina will have to be the best we’ve ever played ... We’re not going to sit back and just try to defend. We will be aggressive. We’re going to try to play the way we want to play and see if we can keep it up,” he promised.

Argentina’s line-up remains largely the one which triumphed in the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 although Messi, troubled by a hamstring strain, has yet to perform anywhere near the level he showed in that tournament. But the midfield is packed with quality options and striker Lautaro Martinez has picked up four goals while the defence, marshalled by Lisandro Martinez, has looked solid. AFP

DAZZLE OR BE DOUR

Olmo Takes Reins Of Adventurous Spain As France Wait For Mbappe To Come Alive

Munich: The battle between the two most successful national sides of the new millennium, Tuesday’s Euro 2024 semifinal between France and Spain, also showcases two contrasting styles. Spain have dazzled in Germany, reaching the final four on the back of the attacking brilliance of wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams.

By contrast France, one of the pre-tournament favourites who boast one-man offensive powerhouse Kylian Mbappe, have trudged their way to the semis on the back of solid defence, conceding just one goal in five games.

France go into the showdown hoping Mbappe can finally produce a performance worthy of his superstar status at a tournament in which he has struggled to find form and fitness. The match in Munich is a mouthwatering prospect and a huge occasion in particular for Mbappe, in his first major tournament captaining his country and just before he starts a new chapter in his career at Real Madrid.

But the man who won the World Cup as a teenager and scored an incredible hat-trick in the 2022 final in Qatar, has not been able to play anywhere near his best at the European Championship. Already floundering to some extent physically, lacking his usual explosive edge, a broken nose in Les Bleus’ opening game at the tournament against Austria has further diminished him. He has scored just once, from a penalty. “He might not have been here at all, so we need to look at it in a positive light,” coach Didier Deschamps told broadcaster TF1 on Sunday.

“Kylian is here, even if he is not at 100 percent, and I know that has an impact on the opposition who are forced to adapt to him.”

He is a natural leader, but it is goals that this shot-shy France team want more than anything from him.

The key for Spain, in absence of injured Pedri, will be Dani Olmo. The midfielder did not start as part of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s first choice side but how the three-time champions finish will depend in no small part on him. The 26-year-old RB Leipzig midfielder replaced the injured Pedri against Germany early on in the quarter-final and contributed to both of Spain’s goals in a thrilling 2-1 extra-time victory. Olmo is set to start against France in the semifinal on Tuesday.

In the past, the technically gifted Olmo has also operated on the left for Spain but electric Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams has proven undroppable this summer.

“Dani Olmo thinks about the team more than himself,” said De la Fuente. Didier Deschamps’ dull but durable France have proven hard to break down thus far. Spain, by contrast, are the leading scorers and Olmo’s job is to help them unpick the blue wall and take La Roja to the Berlin final on July 14. AGENCIES

SPAIN: Unai Simon (23); Jesus Navas (22), Nacho (4), Laporte (14), Cucurella (24); Olmo (10), Rodri (16), Fabian Ruiz (8): Lamine Yamal (19), Morata (7), Williams (17)

FRANCE: Maignan (16); Kounde (5), Saliba (17), Upamecano (4), Hernandez (22); Kante (13), Tchouameni (8), Rabiot (14), Griezmann (7); Kolo Muani (12), Mbappe (10)

KEY TACTICAL BATTLES

RODRI METRONOMY VS KANTE CHAOS THEORY

As a metronomic presence at the Spanish midfield, Rodri will be expected to exert his typical influence on proceedings. Spain’s No16 is blessed with unparalleled intelligence and positional dexterity, so Deschamps may have to mitigate, rather than eliminate entirely, this influence. How key could N’Golo Kante be in that exercise? The latter has been back to his bustling best at Euro 2024, and nobody can disrupt the rhythm of an opponent like Kante.

YOUTH VS EXPERIENCE

With Dani Carvajal and stopper Robin Le Normand supended, coach Luis de la Fuente will select 38-year old Jesus Navas at rightback and will have the uneviable job of containing Kylian Mbappe. Mbappe will be a huge figure. When fit and firing, the France forward is arguably the most dangerous in world football.

HOW TO DEAL WITH SPAIN’S WINGMEN

When football produces daring players, the eternal question is: how can rivals work them out? Didier Deschamps’ analysts have spent a good amount of time figuring out how they can produce solutions to cope with Spain’s Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Righ back Jules Kounde will be well versed Williams bagful of tricks. He was unsettled by Portugal’s Rafael Leao but emerged unscathed. He’ll be buoyed by that, along with his Player of the Match contribution against Belgium, stifling Jeremy Doku. (SOURCE: UEFA.COM)

Rodriguez is Colombia’s main man, once again

Miami: James Rodriguez has looked back to his brilliant best at the Copa America and the Colombian said he is determined to take his side to their second trophy in the competition after they beat Panama 5-0 in the quarter-finals on Saturday.

The 32-year-old has impressed in the run by 2001 champions Colombia to the semi-finals, with his outstanding vision and defence-splitting passes leading to him notching five assists tied with Lionel Messi (2021) for most assists in a single edition of the tournament.

Rodriguez’s creative ability once again caught the eye in the win over Panama, as he sent in a pin-point corner for the opener, before scoring an emphatic penalty and then providing the as- sist for Colombia’s third goal with a bit of quick thinking.

“A tough match, they are very strong, but we came in in a good way, we knew how to score the goals quickly and that gave us control of the match,” Rodriguez said after picking up his third player of the match award in four games.

“Did I want to be the best player of the Copa? Yes, I wanted to have a very good Cup, help my teammates to go far. We are going until the last day, we are going through a good moment too.”

Rodriguez is once again Colombia’s main man, but he has had to fight to get here. He burst into the limelight by winning the Golden Boot during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, which earned him a high-profile move to Real Madrid.

However, his club career never quite managed to reach the level he displayed for Colombia. He joined Brazilian side Sao Paulo last year. Rodriguez was left out of Colombia’s squad for the 2021 Copa America due to a lack of fitness, but has been fully reinstated in the team by Nestor Lorenzo. REUTERS

JAMES RODRIGUEZ

CLASSIC CLASHES

Euro 1984

Spain and France face off for a place in the Euro 2024 final on Tuesday after taking contrasting routes to the semi-final clash in Munich. As France have stumbled their way through to the last four, Spain’s flowing football has made them the team to beat in Germany. However, they will have to overturn a poor record against the French in major tournament competition to do so.

The first meeting between two of European football’s powerhouses at a major tournament did not take place until the final of Euro 1984. Hosts France emerged victorious led by the imperious Michel Platini (in blue, above) — whose nine goals in a single tournament remains a Euros record. Platini opened the scoring at the Parc des Princes in a moment that dogged Spanish goalkeeper Luis Arconada for the rest of his career. Arconada let the French legend’s low freekick slip through his grasp before Bruno Bellone chipped the Spanish goalie in stoppage time to seal France’s first major tournament victory.

France also defeated Spain 2-1 en route to their second Euros title in the Netherlands and Belgium. The quarterfinal clash in Bruges was a classic featuring a free-kick from another iconic French No. 10. Zinedine Zidane’s (in white, above) sumptuous set-piece put Les Bleus in front before Gaizka Mendieta’s penalty levelled. Youri Djorkaeff smashed home the winner for a French side that was captained by current boss Deschamps.

World Cup 2006

France’s dominance of the fixture in major tournament matches continued on German soil at the 2006 World Cup. Spain had appeared the team to beat in the group stage and went in front in the last-16 clash in Hannover through David Villa’s penalty. But France hit back on their road to the final. Franck Ribery levelled with his first international goal before Patrick Vieira and Zidane — in the tournament that was his swansong — fired France into the quarterfinals.

Spain managed their first competitive win over Les Bleus in the Euro 2012 quarterfinals. On his 100th international appearance, Xabi Alonso (in red) scored both goals in Donetsk with an early diving header and late penalty to seal France’s fate. Spain went on to win a third consecutive major after Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup.

The most recent meeting between the sides saw France win the 2021 Nations League final 2-1 in Milan. Two goals in barely two minutes sparked the final into life as Mikel Oyarzabal fired Spain in front before Karim Benzema’s stunning strike levelled matters. Kylian Mbappe then scored the winner as a subtle stepover outfoxed Unai Simon. AFP

Euro 2000

Euro 2012

FRANCE PLAYERS CELEBRATE LEFTIST WIN AT ELECTIONS

Munich: Several France players are already celebrating something at the European Championship — the result of the elections back home. A leftist coalition that came together to try to keep the far right from power in France won the most parliamentary seats in Sunday’s runoff parliamentary election.

“The victory of the People,” France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni wrote on X. “Congratulations to all those who came forward in the face of the danger that hovered over our country,” France forward Marcus Thuram put on his Instagram story. Long live diversity, long live the Republic, long live France. The fight continues.”

France’s players have been vocal at Euro 2024 with calls to get out to vote in parliamentary elections. Captain Kylian Mbappe had warned that his country was in a “catastrophic” political situation. “The relief is equal to the worry of these recent weeks, it is immense,” France defender Jules Kounde wrote on X.

“Congratulations to all the French people who mobilized so that this beautiful country that is France does not find itself governed by the extreme right.” AP

REF FOR ENG-NED WAS ONCE BANNED FOR ‘FIXING’ TIES

Dortmund: The referee for the semifinal game between England and the Netherlands is Felix Zwayer, who once had ties to a match-fixing scandal in Germany. It will be Zwayer’s fourth game of Euro 2024 and his second with the Netherlands after the game against Romania in the round of 16.

England’s Jude Bellingham was fined 40,000 euros ($43,400) when at Borussia Dortmund in 2021 for criticizing the appointment of Zwayer.

As a assistant referee, Zwayer received a six-month ban in 2006 over an allegation that he had received money from another referee, Robert Hoyzer, who was banned for match-fixing. A ruling in the case stated that Zwayer had accepted 300 euros ($325) from Hoyzer ahead of a game in 2004 and had not immediately reported the incident, but said that there was no evidence Zwayer had manipulated a game and that he had eventually provided crucial evidence. AP

Jyothi looks to hurdle past obstacles in Paris

Sabi.Hussain@timesofindia.com

New Delhi: Jyothi Yarraji’s indomitable spirit has helped her fly past any hurdle that life has thrown her way. The 23-year-old from Andhra Pradesh has surmounted several difficulties to attain the tag of India’s indisputable hurdles queen.

Her father, Suryanarayana, works as a private security guard while her mother, Kumari, doubles up as a domestic help and a part-time cleaner at a city hospital in Visakhapatnam. Their combined income of just Rs 20,000 per month wasn’t enough to sustain Jyothi’s athletics dream. But Jyothi didn’t let her family’s financial constraints stop her progress.

A couple of days ago, she created history when an official confirmation from World Athletics (WA) came her way about her qualification for the Paris Olympics – a moment she had waited for all along. The women’s 100m hurdles event has been a part of every Olympics since 1972, but this will be the first time that an Indian athlete will feature on the start list.

“Olympics is like a dream for every athlete. I just want to go there (in Paris) and express myself. I try to become a better athlete every day. I always take on challenges to move forward. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to get there. Once you are an Olympian, it will always stay with your name. I want to do my best over there and not repeat mistakes,” Jyothi told TOI.

Jyothi secured the Paris athletics quota for India through her world ranking. The qualification window for athletics events for Paris 2024 had ended on June 30. However, the final Road to Paris standings were officially con- firmed by World Athletics late last week. Jyothi occupied the 34th position in women’s 100m hurdles to make the cut-off among 40 athletes.

Jyothi could have breached the automatic entry standard for Paris on her own instead of waiting for her world ranking update, but a nasty fall at the Monet Grand Prix in Finland in May hampered her progress. She ran 12.78s in Finland and missed the mark by just one-hundredth of a second.

“I hit the 10th hurdle hard with my lead leg during the race and badly lost my balance and momentum. It took me at least 5-6 weeks to recover. I would have loved to achieve the qualification mark. While I was confident of qualifying through my world ranking, the injury did affect my preparations for Paris. I have three weeks left to train for the Olympics and I want to use this time judiciously. I will look to achieve my personal best in Paris,” said Jyothi, who is supported by Reliance Foundation and trains at its High Performance Centre in Bhubaneswar under coach James Hillier.

The reigning national record holder in the event, Jyothi is also the only Indian woman to win a medal in the women’s 100m hurdles at the Asian Games, where she won silver last year. She is the only Indian woman to go below the 13smark and holds the 15 fastest times ever run by an Indian in this category.

As a knock-on effect, three other women have now run faster than the longstanding national record of Anuradha Biswal that Jyothi broke. Jyothi’s personal best stands at 12.78s.

“As Jyothi has qualified for Paris, our training regime would be slightly different from what we have been doing till now. She had a fairly serious injury 5-6 weeks ago and, because of that, she missed a lot of training sessions. Normally, when I train Jyothi for major championships, will go for a lot of flat sprinting because she is a brilliant sprinter. For Paris, we will go less flatter in sprinting and focus a lot more on hurdling. We have to be very specific about what we do,” Hiller said.

PARIS GAMES

Sindhu named flagbearer, Narang is chef de mission

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: Two-time Olympic medallist P V Sindhu was on Monday named as the country’s female flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the Paris Games, scheduled from July 26 to Aug 11. The announcement was made by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Sindhu will lead the contingent with table tennis veteran Sharath Kamal who was named the flagbearer by IOA in March. Sharath was India’s flagbearer at the closing ceremony of the Birmingham CWG in 2022 as well, where he created history by securing three gold.

London Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang has been named as the chef de mission of the Indian contingent, replacing legendary boxer and six-time world champion M C Mary Kom, who had resigned from the position in April citing personal reasons. Narang will be assisted by Winter Games veteran and luger Shiva Keshavan, who has been appointed his deputy.

“I was looking for an Olympic medallist to lead our contingent and my young colleague is an apt replacement for Mary Kom,” IOA president P T Usha said. “I am also delighted to announce that India’s only woman to win two Olympic medals, P V Sindhu, as the female flag bearer alongside Sharath Kamal in the opening ceremony. I am confident that our athletes are well prepared to deliver the best results for India in Paris 2024,” she added.

Narang was supposed to oversee India’s operations at the shooting range, which is far from the main venues. Usha said Narang's elevation from deputy CDM’s position was an automatic choice in the wake of Mary Kom’s resignation. Chef de mission is an important administrative post as he is responsible for ensuring the welfare of the participating athletes, taking care of their needs and liaising with the organising committee. Dr Dinshaw Pardiwala has been appointed as the chief medical officer, responsible for the health and well-being of the country’s athletes throughout the Games. “We are delighted to have such a distinguished and capable team of officials leading our contingent in Paris. Their expertise, dedication and passion for sports will undoubtedly inspire our athletes to achieve their best,” Usha said.

ASHWIN BUYS TEAM IN GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE

New Delhi: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become a co-owner of the American Gambits, a new team which will feature in the second edition of the Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and International Chess Federation. The League on Monday unveiled the six franchises for the second edition to be played in London from Oct 3 to 12. American Gambits will replace Chingari Gulf Titans.

Bavuma returns to lead SA to WI in rare Test series: Temba Bavuma will return to international cricket when he captains South Africa in a twomatch Test series in the West Indies next month.

Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wk).

Have been living a dream for past few days, says Bumrah: India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah aid he has been “living a dream” for the past few days as he expressed gratitude for the stupendous reception that he and the rest of his teammates got for winning the T20 WC orld Cup in Caribbean. “I am so thankful for the last few days. I’ve been living a dream and it has filled me with happiness and gratitude,” Bumrah posted on X.

Maldives tourism body invites T20 world champion Indian team to celebrate in Maldives: The recently-crowned T20 world champion Indian cricket team has been invited to celebrate its win in Maldives by the country’s tourism association and marketing and public relations corporation. The Indian team won the trophy on June 29. “Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC-Visit Maldives) in collaboration with the Maldives Association of Tourism Industry (MATI) have jointly extended a special and open invitation to the Indian National Cricket Team,” the two bodies said in a joint statement.

AGENCIES

Musetti gets the better of big-serving Perricard

Italian Makes Maiden Grand Slam QF; Rybakina And Svitolina Advance

Lorenzo Musetti returns to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Monday

Prajwal.Hegde@timesofindia.com

London: Lorenzo Musetti lay on his back savouring the moment out on Wimbledon’s Court No. 2, the gifted 22-year-old was finally a Grand Slam quarterfinalist. The skies, grey and heavy, threatened, but the Italian had delivered in two hours and three minutes. When Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s forehand sailed long on match point, a bubble had burst, Musetti was overcome by emotion.

Musetti, a stylist pro, whose strokes, particularly the single-handed backhand, ought to make textbooks should tennis be taught in schools, stopped the run of the 21-year-old birthday boy 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Once he got a handle on the tournament ace leader’s serve (115 in four rounds), he broke Mpetshi Perricard five times in the match. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I was a kid,” he said. “I always had a really beautiful family that always supported me chasing my dream. It’s tough to speak.”

The Italian, and girlfriend Veronica Confalonieri, who welcomed their first child, son Ludovico in March, was overcome by emotion when talking about his family — father Francesco, a marble producer, and mother Sabrina, a secretary, whose sacrifices pave the way for Musetti’s career.

The world No. 25, who has a tattoo of an anchor on his right forearm on which he has ‘family’ inscribed, said his parents were the reason he is.

“They protect me in a certain way,” he said of his family. “Always believe in me, that keeps me with a positive mindset on my future. They weren’t making doubts on my future, on what I was doing. They were always supporting me.”

Musetti pointed out that as a sport tennis made a lot of demands on families, on their time and wallets. That despite the fact that the Italian federation was generous with help, and he was lucky to find sponsors early.

“My family and my coach, Simone Tartarini, have been together since I was eight, nine. It’s been more than 11-12 years. It’s something rarely seen on the Tour,” he said. “My mother was always taking me around like a taxi driver. I was born in Carrara (a commune in Central Italy). We practice in La Spezia (a port city in Liguria),” he explained. “It’s 40 minutes (one way) by car. I know probably in London it’s not that much. A small village like Carrara, 30-40 minutes to go, 30-40 minutes to return for somebody, who was working, was a huge sacrifice.”

In other fourth-round clashes, Aussie Alex de Minaur advanced to his maiden Wimbledon quarterfinals, beating Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. American Taylor Fritz came from behind to beat two-time Grand Slam finalist Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Among the women, the No. 4 seed Elena Rybakina and No. 21 seed Elina Svitolina set up a quarterfinal meeting for Wednesday.

Rybakina, the 2022 champion here, advanced after the No. 17 seed Anna Kalinskaya retired from the match due to a right wrist injury. Rybakina led 6-3, 3-0 when Kalinskaya called a stop to her campaign. Svitolina, a Wimbledon semifinalist last year, beat the 42nd-ranked Wang Xinyu 6-2, 6-1 in 55 minutes.

Jelena Ostapenko raced past Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-2, 6-3 in 68 minutes to reach her third Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Sun basks in the limelight

Unheralded New Zealand Player Puts Raducanu In The Shade

Lulu Sun of New Zealand celebrates after beating Emma Raducanu on Monday

Prajwal.Hegde@timesofindia.com

London: The United Nations might’ve found itself a new poster girl in Lulu Sun.

The 23-year-old, born Lulu Radovcic — in Te Anau, a town on New Zealand’s South Island — to a Chinese mother and Croatian father, was raised in Switzerland from the age of five. Her German-English stepfather hails from Devon. Sun went to college at the University of Texas and now divides her time between Florida and Slovakia, the home country of her coach, Vladimir Platenik.

The left-hander, who stands at 5’8’’ in her tennis shoes, enjoyed her coming out party on the lawns of Wimbledon.

Sun, who speaks three languages — English, French and Chinese — started The Championships in the qualifying competition and late on Sunday, became the first woman representing New Zealand (having changed her nationality from Swiss earlier this year) to make the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

The tall pro, playing Wimbledon at her career-best ranking of 123, beat Emma Raducanu 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in the fourth round late on Sunday.

Sun, going for broke, peppered the court with 52 winners (26 from the forehand side), she also had 17 unforced errors on her stronger flank. Sun, who has jumped 70 spots to No. 53 in the live ranking, courtesy her run at SW19, will take home GBP 375,000 for making the last eight here, already more than her career total. She next plays Croat Donna Vekic, the world No. 37, also in her first Wimbledon quarterfinals, on Tuesday.

Sun, who enjoyed a fair reception on Centre Court playing Raducanu, had earlier spoken about her background — a patchwork of different cultures, which gave her an understanding of a wider world.

“It was definitely difficult because I grew up a little bit in New Zealand. I was born there. My family is still there. I grew up in Switzerland as well. Both countries are dear to me,” Sun said about her decision to represent New Zealand. “It wasn’t an easy decision because it never is when you have to choose between two things.”

Sun, who has played fearless tennis in the past week, added, “Even now, I’m grateful for everything that Swiss tennis has done in my junior career. At the same time, I’m also grateful for Tennis New Zealand for their support and all that they’ve done so far.”

“It will always be all the countries that I have been in and have grown up in or have a link to,” she said, looking at the many parts that make up the canvas of her career. “They will always be within me in a way. I don’t think that’s ever going to leave.”

GALLERY

Hockey players head to Mike Horn’s Swiss base

Bengaluru: The Indian men’s hockey team on Monday departed for renowned adventurer Mike Horn’s base in Switzerland which will be followed by a training camp in the Netherlands ahead of the Paris Games. The three-day arduous camp in Switzerland is designed to instill mental toughness and from there the Indian team will head to the Netherlands to play practice matches before finally heading to the French capital.

Athletics squad takes OZ’s Paris team up to 460: Australia will be sending their largest ever team of track and field athletes to an overseas Olympics in Paris later this month with the 75-strong squad taking the overall delegation of competitors to a final 460. The overall delegation is the second largest for a Games since Australia hosted in Sydney, 16 athletes fewer than represented the country and won 17 gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Thomas logs first Top-10 finish: India’s Rayhan Thomas, playing only his second professional event, got a big boost in his career as he finished in Top-10 at the $2 million International Series Morocco golf tournament in Rabat.

AGENCIES

ACTION TODAY

CRICKET: India Women vs South Africa, 3rd T20I, 7 pm (Jiocinema);

FOOTBALL: Euro 2024, Semis, Spain vs France, 12.30 am Wednesday (Sony Sports);

TENNIS: Wimbledon, 3.30 pm (Star Sports)

Svitolina wears black ribbon after Ukraine hospital attack

London: Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina wore a black ribbon and broke down in tears as she made the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday, just hours after a Russian missile barrage in her country killed 31 people. Svitolina’s ribbon stood out dramatically on her white playing shirt as she completed a straight-sets win over Wang Xinyu of China. “It’s a very difficult day today for all Ukraine people,” said the 29-year-old, who wept as she conducted a TV interview on court. As she attempted to compose herself, she received a lengthy round of applause from spectators.

AGENCIES

JAYASURIYA NAMED SRI LANKA’S INTERIM COACH AHEAD OF SERIES AGAINST INDIA

SANATH JAYASURIYA

Colombo: Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya was on Monday named the interim head coach of Sri Lanka’s cricket team ahead of this month’s white-ball home series against India with the country’s board saying that he is “well-positioned” to guide the side till a “permanent solution” is found in the next few months. The Indian team will be touring Sri Lanka for three T20Is and as many ODIs, starting July 27.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Sanath Jayasuriya as the ‘Interim Head Coach’ of the national team. He will function in the position until the completion of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in September 2024,” the SLC stated.

The 55-year-old was named for the interim post after Englishman Chris Silverwood resigned last week.

PTI

THE YUVI-ABHI CONNECTION

Mentor Yuvraj Was Happy When I Was Out For Duck, Now He Is Proud: Abhishek

ON TOP: Abhishek Sharma reacts after scoring his first T20I ton

Harare: India opener Abhishek Sharma revealed that his mentor Yuvraj Singh was “delighted” when he got out for a duck on his T20I debut against Zimbabwe here as the swashbuckling former allrounder, for reasons best known to him, felt it was a “good start”.

Making his India debut, Abhishek was out on duck as the Men in Blue lost the first T20I against hosts Zimbabwe by 13 runs on Saturday. But the 23-year-old came back strongly to set the stage ablaze with a blistering maiden century (a 47-ball 100) to fashion India’s 100-run win in the second game a day later.

“I spoke to him on Saturday also, and I don’t know why he was very happy when I got out on zero. He said that’s a good start. But he must be very happy and proud just like my family,” Abhishek said in a video posted by BCCI.

Abhishek credited the hero of India’s 2011 World Cup triumph for not only helping him hone is skills on the cricket field but also supporting him in his life away from the field. “It’s all because of him as well, the hard work he has put in (shaping) me. (For) two-three years, he has worked really hard not only on my cricket but off the field (life) as well,” said Abhishek.

After Sunday’s game, Abhishek called Yuvraj, who couldn’t be happier for the youngster. “Well done... very proud, you deserve it. Many more (such innings) to come, this is just the start,” Yuvraj said. Since there was no rest day in between the first two games, the visitors didn’t get a lot of time to think about the opening loss and that worked in India’s favour as they levelled the five-match series 1-1.

“We lost in the first match, but I felt today is my day and I should take the match to the end. The positive was that we didn’t have much time to think about the next game,” Abhishek pointed out.

He once again thanked India skipper on the tour and his Punjab teammate Shubman Gill for lending him his bat. “Special thanks to Shubman who timely gave me his bat, this was a much-needed innings for me and the team. This has been going on from U-14 times. Whenever I play with his bat I have done well. I played with his bat only, which I got after a lot of difficulty. He doesn’t give it easily. That is like my last option when I feel I have to play with his bat for a comeback,” Abhishek said. PTI

Anderson has ‘made peace’ with England retirement ahead of final Test

LAST HURRAH: Anderson bowls during a nets session at Lord’s

London: England great James Anderson said Monday he had come to terms with his impending Test retirement even though he feels he is bowling as well as ever as his 42nd birthday approaches.

The first Test against the West Indies at Lord’s, starting on Wednesday, will be the paceman’s 188th and final appearance after a record-breaking career spanning two decades. No fast bowler has taken more than Anderson’s 700 Test wickets and only India batting hero Sachin Tendulkar has played more matches in the five-day game.

Anderson might have carried on for the rest of the season even though he turns 42 at the end of July. But the decision to retire was effectively made for him when he met with England managing director Rob Key, red-ball coach Brendon McCullum and Test captain Ben Stokes in late April. The hierarchy told Anderson they wanted to make changes as they looked to build a squad for the 2025-26 Ashes series in Australia.

“I wouldn’t say it was a surprise because when the three big dogs invited me to a hotel in Manchester for a chat I didn’t think it was just a normal appraisal,” Anderson told a news conference at Lord’s.

“I had a suspicion that that was going to be the case. I think they were surprised at how calm I was when I reacted. I think I was probably surprised at my reaction. I wasn’t overly emotional about it or angry about it or anything. I saw their point of view and appreciated them taking the time out to lay it out for me, the reasoning and stuff like that. Since then I’ve come to terms with it and made peace with that decision.”

In early May, Anderson released a statement saying he would retire from Test cricket after the first Test against the West Indies.

“Now I’m just looking forward to one more game and then see what’s ahead,” said the bowler, who will serve as a mentor to England’s quicks for the rest of the season.

Anderson warmed up for his Test exit with an impressive 7-wicket haul for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire last week in the English County Championship.

“I feel like I’m still bowling as well as I ever have,” he said. “But I knew it had to end at some point. Whether it’s now or in a year or two, I’d love to be able to contribute somehow. Whether it’s one wicket or whatever it is, I’d love just to make a small contribution and win the game.”

The normally reserved Anderson said he might struggle to keep his emotions in check while bringing down the curtain on a Test career that started 21 years ago against Zimbabwe at Lord’s. “I’m sure the emotions during the week will change, but right now what I’m trying to focus on is to stop myself crying,” he said.

AP

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Napoleon’s pistols sell for `15 crores in France

Two pistols that Napoleon Bonaparte once intended to use to kill himself were sold in France on Sunday for 1.69 million euros (`15.29 crores), the auction house said, with the government insisting that they stay in the country as national treasures. The identity of the buyer was not made public. “After the defeat of the French campaign, Napoleon was depressed and wanted to commit suicide with these weapons but his grand squire removed the powder,” said auction house expert Jean-Pierre Osenat ahead of the sale. AFP

HEY BABY!

Posting a pic with his furbaby, FARHAN AKHTAR writes, “The boy loves being my pillow... #Rumi #puppylove”

HOME DECOR

CANDLEHOLDERS CAN ELEVATE YOUR SPACE & ADD DEPTH

from as per your style. Candleholders are one of the most preferred products in the home decor segment, with a year-on-year growth of nearly 1.6x. Candelabras, votives and taper candle holders are perfect for gifting on anniversaries, weddings or housewarmings, along with decorative candles– KN Srikanth, director of the home, kitchen and outdoors segment of an e-commerce platform

Shivika Manchanda

Looking to add a touch of whimsy to your home? Candleholders can help. From wooden holders and wrought iron stands for a vintage look to brass holders with animal figurines, the options are endless. Online interior design stores and local markets have a variety of candleholders to choose from as per your style.

‘CANDLEHOLDERS ADDDEPTH TO A SPACE’

Ruchita Bansal, co-founder of a decor studio, says, “Candles mounted on holders add more depth to a room. Applying the mixand-match method, one can pair tall and short candlesticks with shorter tea light holders to create visual contrast. Colours also play a vital role in elevating your personal space. So, choose candle holders that complement a specific colour theme – whether monochromatic or one with multiple hues. Using different textures and materials such as metal, glass or ceramics helps elevate existing aesthetics.”

Different holder arrangements for different vibes

■ For a cosy setting, you can bring a cluster of votives and keep them on fine-spun placemats and add fresh flowers

■ You can include cast iron candlesticks, that may or may not be branched and pair them with a classic artwork to kindle nostalgia

■ Go beyond the glass and a crylicvariants to explore shimmery, textured finish in metal or wood, to give an interesting spin to the regular decor

■ If you do intend to include glasscandlestands, curate a pond-like centrepiecewith pebbles, shells or gemstones withfloating tea lights

■ For minimalistic look, a simple wick candle in a wooden holder or a tapered candle mounted on an acrylic candle holder with dried flowers can be a perfecttable piece– Inputs from Punam Kalra, interior designer and creative director of a Delhi-based design studio

From vintage holders to whimsical ones, candle stands can add depth to your home decor

People have forgotten that I’m an actor: Mandira

It was nice to break the glass ceiling, when I anchored the Cricket World Cup in 2003, but after that nobody saw me as an actor anymore, people only saw me as a host

Mandira Bedi

Hasti Doshi

Mandira Bedi started her journey in the entertainment industry 30 years ago with the long-running television serial Shanti. The actress went on to feature in several other daily soaps, following the success of her first show. She also became a very popular host, and while she really enjoyed that space, Mandira tells us that she missed out on a lot of acting opportunities.

She says, “I got an opportunity to host and that changed things for me,” adding, “After nine years of acting in TV shows, I thought of taking a sabbatical in 2003, but coincidentally, the Cricket World Cup was taking place that year and I got an opportunity to host that. It changed things for me. It was nice to break the glass ceiling, but after that nobody saw me as an actor anymore, people only saw me as a host.”

CONTINUED ON 3

Sidharth remembers Captain Vikram Batra on his 25th death anniversary

Sidharth in a still from Shershaah

Captain Vikram Batra’s legacy is all about “bravery and honour”, wrote Sidharth Malhotra as he marked the 25th death anniversary of the Kargil war hero. The actor, who played the titular role in 2021’s Shershaah based on the life of Captain Vikram Batra, remembered the real-life hero and wrote on X, “Param Vir Chakra, Captain Vikram Batra, it’s been 25 years since your fearless actions and ultimate sacrifice made history. Your legacy to this day remains the highest ideals of bravery and honour.” PTI

“We remember and honor you today and always for ‘Yeh Dil Mange More’. Jai Hind #CaptainVikramBatra #25YearsOfKargilVijay #Kargil,” wrote Sidharth as he shared a picture of Captain Vikram Batra (above)

SPOTTED

DELHI IS BUZZING WITH FILM SHOOTS

Ayushmann Khurrana was spotted on Sunday shooting for an untitled film in Hari Nagar Ghanta Ghar in Delhi. The shoot is scheduled for 10 to 12 days in many iconic spots in the city like CP, India Gate, and Old Delhi

Last week, Diana Penty, Jaaved Jaaferi, and Tamannaah Bhatia were spotted shooting for a project at Lodhi Garden. The three actors are in the city for a week and have been shooting in Barakhamba, Old Delhi, and Lodhi Garden

As per Delhi Tourism officials, in the past 1.5 years, over 100 films and web series have applied for shooting permissions, and over 23 have already been shot, while others are expected to shoot in the upcoming months in the city

BUZZ STOP

MARGOT ROBBIE IS EXPECTING FIRST BABY WITH TOM ACKERLEY

Margot Robbie is pregnant. The 34-year-old Barbie star is expecting her first child with husband Tom Ackerley, whom she married in a private ceremony in 2016. A photo of the actress exposing her baby bump as she boarded a boat during her holiday at Lake Como in Italy has now gone viral. Agencies

‘There’s a huge demand for fake fans at film events’

Be it a film teaser launch or a fan engagement activity, a large crowd usually means popularity; but showbiz insiders share that not all of it is spontaneous – some of these ‘fans’ are fake and hired by marketing agencies

Recently, a film on campus politics needed some publicity, and for that, we needed to manufacture a crowd in Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai that could protest against the film. But at the last minute, the organisers backed out due to budget constraints – A source, who assembles fake fans on short notice

While the existence of fake fans and manufactured crowds for film events is a surprise to many, showbiz insiders say it is a routine strategy in Mumbai. Event management agencies hire an external agency to gather ‘fans’ to cheer for actors, and they are called junior artistes

Niharika Lal

A strong turnout of 200-400 participants at many film trailer and teaser launches, as well as fan engagement activities in Mumbai, can be ensured for just `200-500 per person and a meal, say showbiz insiders. It ensures that the actors receive a lively welcome, they say. While this notion of a manufactured crowd and popularity may be surprising, those in showbiz say that over the years, it has become an established trend in Mumbai. This charade of popularity creates an illusion that there are hundreds of genuine fans cheering for the actors.

Insiders say that there are publicity teams and marketing agencies working to create fake crowds – both for cheering and protesting – to create hype.

CONTINUED ON 2

‘Fake fans ko mahaul banane ke liye bulaya jata hai’

But why do production houses add this additional expense of hiring fans? A source from an agency that sources fake fans, says, “There is a huge demand for this at film events. Inn logon ko mahaul banane ke liye bulaya jata hai. They shout a lot, whistle, cheer, and go overboard to create the impression that there is hype around the film. All our junior artistes are briefed to act as genuine fans. We brief them before the event to shout names. These clips are then posted and shared on social media to create hype about the actor.”

GREAT INDIAN WEDDING 2.0

Jets, celebs, and gourmet menus: Indian weddings redefine luxury

Rajasthan is a popular wedding destination for many. One can expect to spend between `12 and `42 lakhs on renting a 5-star property alone. Exclusive venues in Udaipur and Jaipur may command higher prices – Saumitra Singh, Managing Director, The Tigress Resort & SPA, Ranthambore

Offbeat lakeside destinations, royal venues in Rajasthan and the picturesque Kashmir have become popular wedding destinations in the country. At the same time, large groups prefer hosting weddings in their hometowns, like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, but with big budgets – Ambika Gupta, founder of A-Cube Project (a wedding designing company)

People are always pushing boundaries, drawing inspiration from the latest trends in showbiz and on social media. For instance, Bridgerton inspired a themed event we did this year. While not everyone can afford the full celeb wedding extravaganza, many aim for a scaleddown version of the same – Darshan Shroff, partner, Momente Weddings

Anukriti Sharma

Indians aren’t just getting married – they’re orchestrating grand spectacles. Picture extravagant private jets whisking couples to remote destinations, towering decor, regal invites, global celebrities serenading guests, designer attire, and gourmet menus. For this opulence and grandeur, families are shelling out money like never before. The India’s wedding industry is valued at an astounding `10 lakh crore ($130 billion), according to a recent report, just behind that of China ($170 billion).

SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR SPENDS

From modest affairs costing around `12 lakh, to extravagant budgets rivalling those of Bollywood weddings, Indian weddings span a vast spectrum. “Saving for their kids’ weddings is something every parent has been doing since ages. It’s just that in the last few years, weddings have changed a lot. Now, sky’s the limit when it comes to luxury weddings which cost upwards of `3 crore,” explains Darshan Shroff, partner, Momente Weddings.

Guests’ preferences dictate the decor budget

Apart from expenses on jewellery, apparel, catering, and event management, decor is stated as an underrated aspect of weddings. Himish Agarwal, CEO of Konark Events, explains, “For example, some communities favour a grand experience overall, while others prioritise top-tier entertainment. Some guests want to see renowned artistes, skilled anchors, talented performers, photographers, and makeup artists at the wedding. International guests at destination weddings in India expect superb management and professional services. All these factors dictate the decor and event expenses of a wedding.”

Minimal weddings not out of the picture

While extravagant weddings hog the limelight, people from the wedding industry share that a lot of young couples also prefer smaller, more intimate affairs. “These naturally cost a lot less, ranging from `7-15 lakh at the most. Yet, they can be fantastic experiences, especially because they are far more personal,” shares Smriti Ahuja, co-owner of Circle Goa, a wedding company.

Rajasthan, Goa, Kerala, Uttarakhand, Karnataka are some of the top locations for grand weddings

According to experts, photography and videography budgets have also gone up depending on the venues. “High-end venues for special shoots may charge around `3 lakh per day,” shares Apoorv Mohan Shrivastav and Sanyogita Sao, from Plush Affairs, a wedding photography company

‘There’s nothing organic or genuine about many fan engagement activities’

School and college students are taken to such events to create perception of popularity and make them look like genuine fans. But there is nothing organic or genuine about these fan engagement activities – A source

Recently, at an event in Gwalior, Kabir Khan was quoted as saying, “When we do (such events) in Mumbai, there would be a (bigger) crowd, but half of them would have been paid to attend.” When producers and actors don’t have enough money to spend and still want a young crowd cheering for them, they approach schools and college fest organisers, who send their students to fill seats and cheer. While the industry in Mumbai is aware of this strategy, fans outside the city often mistake the manufactured crowds for actual hype around an event.

CONTINUED FROM 1

‘External agencies hire fake fans’

Event management agencies hire an external agency to gather pretend-fans to cheer for actors. These supposed fans are called junior artistes. A source says, “We were promoting a popular Punjabi actor’s film, and he had an event for his upcoming movie. While he was going through the final details with the events agency, the organiser asked, ‘Junior artiste ka kya karna hai?’ The actor was shocked to find out that these junior artistes are hired to cheer for actors. Next day, at the press con, the actor said, ‘Humne taali bajane ke liye fan nahi bulaye, aap log hi baja do.’” In Mumbai, this is not shocking but rather routine. Sources say that excluding A-listers’ films, several bigbudget films have hired fans in the last two to three years. There are several south films as well for which a paid crowd was orchestrated.

London in London: Hilton’s daughter makes first trip to her namesake city

Paris Hilton has named her daughter London Marilyn, after her ‘favourite city in the world’

Paris Hilton and her nearly 8-month-old daughter, London Marilyn are enjoying their time in the city she was named after. Taking to her Instagram account on Sunday, the 43-year-old shared a video, marking her daughter, London’s first visit to the English capital.

In the video, Hilton, cooing at her daughter, joyfully said, “London is in London!” Along with the video, Hilton added a long caption that read, “So in love with my little Princess! Bringing her to the city she’s named after for the first time is a dream come true! I’ve spent every summer at this hotel since I was a baby, and now I get to share this special family tradition with my daughter, London Named after my favourite city in the world!” Hilton and her husband, Carter Reum, welcomed London in November 2023. The couple also has a 17-month-old son, Phoenix Barron, born in January 2023. ANI

I’ve been turning down roles to play a cricket presenter: Mandira Bedi

Gratitude inspires me and keeps me positive. I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in life. A lot hasn’t gone my way, but focusing on that can take you into a downward spiral

Mandira Bedi; (inset) The actress in The Railway Men

CONTINUED FROM 1

‘I WANT TO DO A GOOD ROLE, I MISS ACTING’

The actress, who played the role of a cop in 24 with Anil Kapoor, says that she still longs to act. “If there’s one thing that I’m really missing, it’s acting. After doing the web show The Railway Men, I realised how much I missed being in front of the camera. People offer me roles to play cricket presenter or a news anchor, but I turn them down. I want to do a good role. It’s like people have completely forgotten that I’m an actor.”

‘I’VE SEEN A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS IN LIFE’

Mandira has been through a lot on her personal and professional journey. However, she is deeply grateful for everything.

“I wake up every morning and say thank you. Gratitude inspires me and keeps me positive. I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in life. A lot hasn’t gone my way, but focusing on that can take you into a downward spiral. I just focus on the positives,” she says.

‘My husband had no problem with my short hair’

Mandira’s decision to go for a short crop 15 years ago was a bold move that defied industry norms. She says, “When I got married, I told my mom that I’m cutting my hair, and my husband (Raj Kaushal) had no problem with it. My father said, ‘Short hair suits you’. The person who cut my hair said, ‘You won’t get work if you cut your hair short’. But I got some amazing work after that.”

Saira Banu reveals Dilip Kumar suffered from severe insomnia

Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar

Saira Banu took to Instagram recently to post a few pictures of herself with Dilip Kumar and a letter she wrote to him. She also revealed that the late actor suffered from insomnia.

Saira wrote, “Sahib was the greatest actor of all time. He had absolutely everything at his disposal, yet not many people know that he suffered from severe insomnia. Before our marriage, even after taking pills, he would remain awake until dawn. However, once we got married, he started sleeping just in time. He even gave me a cute nickname, endearingly saying, Saira, you are my sleeping pill, you are my pillow.”

Bhuvan takes action against his deepfake video

Content creator and actor Bhuvan Bam, who was last seen in the OTT show Taaza Khabar, has alerted his followers on social media about a deepfake video of him that has been circulating online. The video falsely shows Bhuvan urging people to bet on tennis matches. Bhuvan’s team quickly took action and filed a complaint at the Oshiwara police station in Mumbai. The police are currently investigating the matter.

Addressing the issue, Bhuvan told us, “I want to alert all my fans and followers about a deepfake video of me that is making rounds on social media. This video is completely fake and misguided, encouraging people to bet on tennis matches through predictions made by a certain bookie. I humbly request everyone not to fall for this video. Please stay safe and avoid making any investments that might lead to trouble or financial loss. It’s crucial to be vigilant and not get trapped by these deceitful baits.”

— Vinay MR Mishra

I am glad I didn’t give up: Gurpreet Singh

Gurpreet Singh, who is currently seen in Vanshaj, has been a part of TV shows like Porus and Naagin 6

Gurpreet Singh started with a bang many years ago when he came in place of Rajeev Khandelwal to play the new Sujal in Kahiin to Hoga. But thereafter, the journey wasn’t easy and Gurpreet went through his share of struggles.

However, he continued to try his luck in showbiz and today, he is happy to bag good roles consistently. He says. “I always try not to think about the uncertainties that are a part of our profession. I don’t dwell on that. There is nothing you can do about that, so why waste time thinking about it? You’d rather do what’s in your capacity, which is to stay positive, focused and keep working hard. I used the time when I was free to hone my craft.” Gurpreet adds “I am glad I didn’t give up. Today, my mantra is to go with the flow and focus on my performances.”

— Hasti Doshi

Gurpreet with Aamna Sharif in Kahiin to Hoga

TV show Meetha Khatta Pyaar Hamara going off air in just two months

Avinash Mishra

The TV show Meetha Khatta Pyaar Hamara will end on July 10 after being on air for just two-and-a-half months. When we reached out to lead actor Avinash Mishra, he said, “When a show wraps up so soon, it means somewhere we have gone wrong with the script. I feel the audience wants to watch newer stories and not a remake or a concept which has already been used in an old show. We all gave our best, but somewhere maybe the story did not appeal to the masses.”

Talking about his plans ahead, the actor, who has been part of shows like Yeh Rishtey Hain Pyaar Ke, Titli, Nath and Durga added, “I am not taking a break after this show. I want to focus on interesting roles and will wait for something meaty to come my way.” — Tanvi Trivedi

Special Report

Table of Contents

TOI Print Edition Jul 09, 2024

Front Page

NEET retest only if entire exam vitiated, SC assures students

SC to hear CBI plea against Koli acquittal

Rejig in spl cell, may be renamed ATS

Lightning kills 12 in Bihar, 37 die in 6 days

Soumya case: SC notice to 4 convicts

BSP murder: Top cop moved out

NTA cites data, claims there’s no ‘systemic leak’

French kiss: Left, centrists come together to keep right out of office

T’gana fines mining-lease violators `3k cr after survey

India added 4.7cr jobs in FY24; 6% growth double of previous yr: RBI data

Car no. 0001 auctioned for `23 lakh, 0009 fetches `11L

6-time Cong MLA sworn in as BJP minister in MP

Terrorists ambush Army truck in J&K, 4 soldiers, 1 cop killed

Revisit rustication order: HC to TISS appellate authority

‘Honour’ killing? DU boy abducted, beaten to death

‘Baba’ could’ve stopped crush, probe panel told

At least 31 people

4 die in clash over farm water in Pjb

In just a week, 200+ vehicle theft FIRs

Man shoots mother of survivor, kills self

Olive branch answer to peepal problem

MUMBAI DRENCHER: 170MM IN 3 HRS

Ahead of bilateral summit, Putin rolls out red carpet, holds pvt dinner for Modi

Courts can’t ask accused to share live location as bail condition, says SC

Dad of BMW accused gets bail, driver in jail

Times Nation

Teacher turns ghostbuster

Chennai top cop shunted out

File action-taken report on Kol CP & DCP, guv tells Didi

268mm of rain in 24 hrs stuns Max City

Raj adds Ayodhya consecration day to school festival calendar

PM should come & listen to people here: Rahul in Manipur

Netas get taste of aam aadmi woes, alight from trains, trudge on tracks

ED challenges HC bail for Soren in top court

32 yrs on, peepal branch axed for amity

Amid WB-guv row over VCs, SC sets up selection panel

SC steps in to disburse `2k cr unclaimed crash payout in Guj

SC nixes WB plea against CBI probe into ration scam cases

Chinese accused denied HC nod for home trip to see ailing dad

Mahua, Union mantri spar over border ‘passes’ to ‘smugglers’

Trai wants cable, DTH set-top boxes to be interoperable

Didn’t vote for me, won’t work for you, says BJP MLA who lost LS polls

Govt cites RBI report, says 8+ cr jobs created between 2017-18 and 2021-22

Baba could’ve stopped stampede: Witnesses

Cops: Bishnoi targeted Salman to assert Mumbai dominance

Liquor smugglers ram SUV into Maha excise dept’s car, 1 killed

Cong neither gave recognition nor respect: MP MLA after joining BJP

Top 11k ranks spread evenly across 800 NEET centres: NTA

67 candidates getting full marks surprises SC

49 hurt as bus overturns:

Hemant wins trust vote, fills 12 cabinet slots

Woman bites Customs officer to evade check

Rape accused opens fire at survivor, her family, later kills self

Denied free chips, duo kills 3-year-old

Pune CID constable dies in hit-&-run

Maoist gunned down in MP

Flyer from Thailand held with 402 iguanas at Chennai airport

PM expected to seek Indians’ release from Russian army

Have shut 886 mines over violations, says Telangana official

SC: Riders can’t be so severe as to frustrate bail order itself

‘Pinned by her saree, woman dangled between bumper & wheels for 1.5km’

7 personnel killed in terror attacks in 3 days in J&K

Diversion of SC/ST funds for Cong’s K’taka pledges ‘injustice’: BJP

Times City

DU student ‘abducted’ from near NE Delhi home, killed in Baghpat

6 shunted in major overhaul of Delhi Police Special Cell

Soumya Case: SC Notice To 4 On Cops’ Appeal Against Bail

‘Effective steps not taken to demarcate Yamuna floodplain’

Woman (84) with Parkinson’s waits for three hours for wheelchair after arriving at airport

Garbage blocks half of Ggn-Fbd highway

Car Stolen? Why Chances Are Brighter Of Your Hot Wheels Getting Restored To You

Tables turned: Complainant gets life term in murder case

Unified portal to grant licences for amusement activities in city

Trial in ‘Wild West’ shows a big drop in motor vehicle thefts

Conspiracy to ruin ‘education revolution’ in city, says Atishi

Hungry at night? You can soon head to 24x7 eatery at nearby metro stn

Hope brews here! 10 neurodiverse individuals to run this cafe at HC

HC refuses to allow 30-yr-old head injury victim’s petition to undergo passive euthanasia

Cops write to X in Mahua case:

HC reserves order on Bibhav’s plea

Cops arrest three for murder near Old Delhi Rly Stn

Man arrested for videotaping 15-year-old girl

Man gets 10 yrs’ jail for rape of 15-yr-old in 2021

Ego Trip: `18L Between 0001 & 0002

Court asks forest dept to find out how many trees still concretised

LG had visited illegal tree cutting site: DDA to SC

Teacher-student ratio in Delhi among worst in country: BJP

Students question NTA’s CUET-UG answer keys

Clip shows man mowed down by tanker on flooded road

NDMC launches plan to boost drain infra

3 of Gzb family die in Jaipur highway crash

Bharadwaj reviews readiness of govt hospitals to tackle dengue

Wait Gets Longer For 4 Key Hosp Projects

Shots fired in Jahangirpuri

Inspect city’s nursing homes for fire-safety compliance, says HC

Court to hear Kavitha’s default bail plea this wk

Man held for murder of partner’s son

SC To Hear CBI Plea Against Acquittal Of Nithari Convict

Tihar told to reply on CM plea for more virtual meets

Lost because of internal bickering: Raj

MCD reduces illegal waste dumping points

From drizzle to downpour, city caught in rain roulette

Times Global

Hamas: Israeli PM creating ‘obstacles’ to Gaza truce talks

Eye on China? US to up scrutiny on property deals near military sites

2 PIOs among 5 independents who won in UK on Gaza stance

Defiant Biden dares Dems to ‘challenge’ him at convention

France’s left ready to form govt, faces tricky talks

Pak to HC: X ban not against laws of the country

2024 could be ‘world’s hottest year’ as June breaks records

Russia destroys a children’s hosp in deadly barrage across Ukraine

France allows extradition of American who sent ‘I raped you’ message to victim on FB

Alice Munro’s daughter says sexually abused by stepdad: ‘She knew & protected him’

AROUND THE WORLD

Times Special

How ‘tactical voting’ in France helped keep the far-right out

Mandatory menstrual leave may be counter-productive: SC

HC relief for TISS student axed for social media post

SC norms against offending disability depiction in films

Times Business

Tata Group airlines’ mergers get approval from regulator DGCA

Accenture buys fab design co Excelmax

Merc to tap 1st-time luxury car buyers

Microfin pitch for ‘responsible lending’

Xiaomi eyes doubling shipments to India

Budget set to focus on long-term eco vision: Report

Govt to settle PLI claims quarterly

Rural engine starting to fire for FMCG, aids growth in Q1

Life insurers’ new biz grows 23% in June qtr

BoB stock slips 4% on slower deposit growth

Former defence secy raises `250cr VC fund

NFRA, IICA join hands to launch training modules

Santoor maker’s eyes on rains, food inflation

Govt should cut PSB stake: SBI economists

Boeing to plead guilty in probe of 737 MAX crashes

Prices of used trucks surge as stressed logistics cos cut costs

Editorial

Oui The People

LUI Tragedies

Bieber’s boxers

The Bahá’i Vision For Global Civilisation

Questions French Voters Asked

What Our Champion Cricketers Can Teach Us

A thought for today

Sacred space

Times Sport

‘Hungry’ Canada ready for Argentina battle in semis

DAZZLE OR BE DOUR

Rodriguez is Colombia’s main man, once again

CLASSIC CLASHES

FRANCE PLAYERS CELEBRATE LEFTIST WIN AT ELECTIONS

REF FOR ENG-NED WAS ONCE BANNED FOR ‘FIXING’ TIES

Jyothi looks to hurdle past obstacles in Paris

Sindhu named flagbearer, Narang is chef de mission

ASHWIN BUYS TEAM IN GLOBAL CHESS LEAGUE

Musetti gets the better of big-serving Perricard

Sun basks in the limelight

GALLERY

Svitolina wears black ribbon after Ukraine hospital attack

JAYASURIYA NAMED SRI LANKA’S INTERIM COACH AHEAD OF SERIES AGAINST INDIA

THE YUVI-ABHI CONNECTION

Anderson has ‘made peace’ with England retirement ahead of final Test

Delhi Times

Napoleon’s pistols sell for `15 crores in France

HEY BABY!

CANDLEHOLDERS CAN ELEVATE YOUR SPACE & ADD DEPTH

People have forgotten that I’m an actor: Mandira

Sidharth remembers Captain Vikram Batra on his 25th death anniversary

DELHI IS BUZZING WITH FILM SHOOTS

BUZZ STOP

‘There’s a huge demand for fake fans at ﬁlm events’

Jets, celebs, and gourmet menus: Indian weddings redefine luxury

‘There’s nothing organic or genuine about many fan engagement activities’

London in London: Hilton’s daughter makes first trip to her namesake city

I’ve been turning down roles to play a cricket presenter: Mandira Bedi

Saira Banu reveals Dilip Kumar suffered from severe insomnia

Bhuvan takes action against his deepfake video

I am glad I didn’t give up: Gurpreet Singh

TV show Meetha Khatta Pyaar Hamara going off air in just two months