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theme park  case
Closure report rejected
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The CBI court of Vimal Kumar today rejected the closure report in the corruption case registered against former UT Administration officials for anomalies in the multi-crore amusement-cum-theme park project.

The court directed the CBI to re-investigate the case and directed the investigating agency that all documents submitted in the closure report be returned to the SP (CBI).

The case of corruption, abuse of power and criminal conspiracy was registered in 2010 against former UT Adviser Lalit Sharma, the former UT Home Secretary, and former Director Tourism Vivek Atray. The CBI had filed a closure report in the court in April 2012 stating that there was no direct evidence in the case to nail the accused.

The court today also allowed both the applications moved by complainant Vivek Aditya in the case on May 28 and August 16 when arguments on closure report were being heard.

The complainant had stated that the CBI was concealing facts from the court and had imposed softer sections on the accused. The complainant pointed out that though the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) had determined that there was a needle of suspicion towards former UT Administrator SF Rodrigues, his name was not mentioned in the case.

It was stated in the application that the CBI had not attached the CVC inquiry report with this closure report. In the applications that were accepted by court today, the complainant had demanded that it was essential that the IPC Sections 409 read with 511 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) be added to the FIR against the accused.

The FIR registered by the CBI in the case had stated that the Chandigarh Administration’s former top bureaucrats, in connivance with M/s Unitech Limited, indulged in criminal conspiracy and awarded 73.65 acres in Sarangpur village to Unitech Limited at Rs 5.5 crore fixed annual licence fee and 1.1 per cent annual revenue sharing. By doing so, the FIR stated, they caused “wrongful loss to the government and corresponding wrongful gain to Unitech Limited, Gurgaon”.

It was alleged that the Chandigarh Administration ignored financial rules while inviting tenders and shortlisting companies. These officials had allegedly ignored the highest bidder, DLF, and allotted the project to Unitech. The case had been referred to the CBI by the CVC.

The CBI has in its closure report stated that during the course of its investigations, none of the allegations levelled in the complaint have been substantiated. The CBI also did not find any corroborative evidence of Unitech having dealt with any of these officials with a view to get the allotment done in their favour.

The CBI had registered the case on October 4, 2010, on charges of abuse of power and criminal conspiracy under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the IPC.

The controversial project was shelved by the Chandigarh Administration in 2010 after the CVC conducted a probe into allegations of irregularities in the allotment of land to Unitech. 

Allegations by complainant

* The CBI avoided adding Section 409 of the IPC (criminal breach of trust) in the FIR against bureaucrats

* It was odd that the CBI had not attached the CVC inquiry report with this closure report

* There seems to a particular attempt to shield the private party — M/s Unitech — in the FIR and that is why the IPC Sections 107-109 were not put in the FIR

* The name of former UT Administrator not mentioned in the case even though the CVC had pointed a needle of suspicion on him 

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Lake Club GM, caterer indicted 
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
There was a clear understanding between the Lake Club general manager, official caterer of the club and the organisers of the pool party, states the inquiry report submitted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Mahavir Kaushik to UT Finance Secretary VK Singh.

A senior official of the UT Administration, who has gone through the report, said official caterer Sanjay Singla, who is also a club member, promised organiser Harjit Kukreja for making arrangements of a pool party at Lake Club in violation of rules.

Lake Club GM Rajiv Tuli gave permission to Sanjay Singla to hold a commercial party in the name of ‘social get-together’. But Tuli did not specify where the party would be organised. It was Tuli’s the responsibility to specify the place for organising the party. The report mentioned that when Rajiv Tuli had issued a notice for carrying out maintenance work of the swimming pool on August 19 why the water was not drained out of the pool. As the swimming pool had water, the organisers managed to hold the ‘Island Pool Party’.

Besides, the organisers had covered the poolside area with a tent and arranged DJs for the party. They had invited youngsters through social networking websites. Therefore, there was sufficient evidence that it was not a social get-together but a commercial party, the official added. 

‘Chuski’ still a mystery
There were eight kinds of snacks on the menu, including ‘chuski’. But even after submitting the report, the UT police and Administration officials failed to substantiate what was ‘chuski’. An official said that a few things had came before them during investigation — ice candy or a cigarette filled with some drugs but as nobody, including youngsters and organisers, gave any details about it, ‘chuski’ remains a mystery. 

Highlights

* Water not drained out of the pool despite issuing notice for pool’s maintenance

* Space for party was not specified at the time of booking

* Organisers tampered with Excise Department permission for beer cartons

* Liquor was free, guests were charged for food and snacks

* DJ was used in the silence zone 

Excise Act violated
Sanjay Singla had got a permission of five cartons of Indian Made Foreign Liquor and for five cartons of beer from the Excise Department, but later Singla and the organisers tempered with the permission letter and added ‘4’ before ‘5’. Against the permission of five cartons of beer, a permit of 45 cartons was in possession of the organisers. By changing the permit figure, more liquor was available for guests. 

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lake club pool party
Caterer arranged 11 parties in a month
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Lake Club member Sanjay Singla, who is also an official caterer of the club, had made organising parties at the club his “business” and had booked 11 parties at the club in the past five months.
In his statement to the UT police, official caterer Sanjay Singla had admitted that he was booking parties at the Lake Club to increase the club’s revenue.
In his statement to the UT police, official caterer Sanjay Singla had admitted that he was booking parties at the Lake Club to increase the club’s revenue. 

Sources revealed that Singla in his statement before the UT police had admitted that he was booking parties at the Lake Club to increase the club’s revenue. The sources further added that he had told the police that there was a clause in the catering firm’s contract with the Lake Club administration that out of catering firm’s total revenue at the Lake Club, he had to give 33 per cent revenue share to the Lake Club administration.

A senior official of the UT Administration said that they had evidence that Singla had booked the Lake Club on a number of occasions for parties in the name of “social get-together”. But on an average, any other club member would book club once or twice in a year for his personal functions not for 11 occasions, the official added.

Moreover, Singla had booked the club for Event Experts, an event management company, in his name. Besides, he had also taken excise permission in his name. Singla had booked the club on per head basis and had paid around Rs 4,000 for 60 guests. In the pool party of August 19, services of his catering firm were used. After ADC Mahavir Kaushik’s inquiry report, the UT Administration has decided to form a sub-committee on the issue. 

Action to be recommended by sub-panel
"The ADC’s inquiry was only related to the misuse of Lake Club premises, Excise Act violation and violations in the Silence Zone. The ADC has submitted only facts before the UT Administration. Now, the action to be taken will be recommended by the sub-committee, which will now analyse the report" —
VK Singh, UT Finance-cum-Sports Secretary 

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Rs 21 lakh goes down the drain
 Cong councillors foil day market project at Mauli Jagran
Aarti Kapur
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
After spending Rs 21 lakh of public money on constructing 136 booths meant for the day market at Charan Singh Colony in Mauli Jagran, the Congress councillors today scuttled the project by playing their cards meticulously in getting support of all nine nominated councillors to defeat the BJP on the floor of the MC House.

Members of the Roadside Vendors’ Association protest in support of their demands at the MC Office in Chandigarh
Members of the Roadside Vendors’ Association protest in support of their demands at the MC Office in Chandigarh 
on Wednesday: tribune photo: S Chandan

With this, Rs 21 lakh have gone down the drain. After discussion for an hour on this issue in the House, Mayor Raj Bala Malik asked for voting when all opposition councillors, including 10 BJP-SAD along with two BSP and an Independent councillor were raising slogans against the Union Minister and Congress Member of Parliament Pawan Kumar Bansal in the well of the House.

Interestingly, without counting the hands raised in favour or against the cancellation of the day market, the Mayor announced that the majority had approved the cancellation of the project. BJP councillors alleged that the Mayor had not conducted the voting on the issue fairly as she had not mentioned as to how many votes were in favour and how many were against the proposal.

Pursuing the instructions of senior leaders of the party in a pre-house meeting, all Congress and nominated councillors opposed the proposal of the day market project tabled for review in the House today. Dancing to the tunes of the Congress on the issue, all nominated councillors opposed the day market construction on a plea that it was not under the preview of the corporation and no policy had so far been framed by the authorities for their allotment.

The discussion over the cancellation of the project was merely an eyewash as the Congress had already decided to cancel the project.

Figure this out: Congress councillor Subhash Chawla opposed the day market construction by comparing it with the rehri markets of the city where the authorities are facing the problem of mismanaged parking of vehicles due to shortage of space. Differing with Chawla, BJP councillor Arun Sood clarified that out of one acre land, half of it was lying vacant which could easily be used for parking of vehicles.

Referring to the allotment of temporary sheds to vendors, Subhash Chawla objected that the authorities had not prepared any official list to whom the sheds were to be allotted. On this, Arun Sood referred to the shops constructed in the subway and commented that how the project was taken over by the corporation when it was not under its preview.

Subhash Chawla, however, added that a kerosene pump was located near the market which was a threat to residents of the area. Reacting to it, Arun Sood remarked that kerosene pumps were located all over the city including Sectors 15, 22 and 37, and were in the most crowded markets, then why objection was being raised for the cancellation to the specific market

Approved in 2009
In 2009, a proposal for constructing 136 booths was approved by the MC and the construction started in 2011 after the approval of the UT chief architect. The MC earmarked one acre for the project with the budget of Rs 65 lakh out of which Rs 21 lakh had been spent.

For the First time
For the first time in the history of the MC, councillors proposed to vote for the review the project which had already stared and had been approved by the House. The ruling party was least bothered that by cancelling the project. 

Shopkeepers hold protest
Congress councillor Subhash Chawla claimed that around 500 residents of Mauli Jagran submitted a memorandum against the construction of the day market. However, hundreds of shopkeepers of the Mauli Jagran protested outside the MC office on Wednesday.

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Anupama case  
Consumer forum issues notice to PGI, CTU
 PGI has been directed to produce Anupama’s complete medical record
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Following a complaint moved by Anupama’s parents, (the girl who died at PGIMER last month) alleging medical negligence, the UT Consumer Forum today served notices to PGIMER and the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) for filing their replies.
Anupama’s parents Konika Sarkar and Amit Sarkar
Anupama’s parents Konika Sarkar and Amit Sarkar

Respondents have been directed to file their replies by October 3. Accepting the application moved by the complainant’s counsel, the court has also directed the PGI to produce Anupama’s medical record.

Anupama, a student of Government Model School, Sector 18, died on July 25, after she was admitted to PGI’s on July 17 when her leg was crushed under the rear tyre of a CTU bus on her way back to school.

The complainants, her parents Amit and Konika Sarkar, have demanded a compensation of Rs 85 lakh for negligence at the hands of both the CTU and the PGI staff, which according to them, resulted in Anupama’s death.

The petition states, “Injured Anupama was taken to the Advanced Trauma Centre of the PGI by the police authorities, where her left leg was bandaged by Dr. Jhujhar, doctor on duty. The bandaging was done in the most incompetent manner and the blood kept oozing out, despite being bandaged.”

“Her parents were told that the injured girl required an emergency operation, which was being arranged by the doctors concerned. X-rays and other tests were carried out, and the complainants deposited the requisite fees for the same,” the petition read further.

The required operation was never arranged and the daughter of the complainants continued to suffer. No medical attention was being given to her by the PGI doctors, after the initial bandaging. The complainants kept on pleading with the doctors on duty to give proper treatment to their daughter, but to o avail, the petitioners contended.

Supporting the demanded compensation of Rs 85 lakh, the counsel also contended that Anupama was the only support of her parents, who manage their living with a monthly income of Rs 6,000.

Dr. Jujhar, the treating doctor and Dr. Murali, who conducted the post-mortem examination have also been made respondents in the case. 

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80% streetlights defunct in city
  MC pays Rs 58 lakh per month to UT for maintenance, power
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
It sounds strange, but it is a fact that around 80 per cent streetlights of the city are non-functional but the Municipal Corporation is paying Rs 58 lakh every month to the UT Administration for their maintenance and clearing electricity bill. The fact came to light today in the General House meeting during the question hour in a reply to the query of BJP councillor Satinder Singh.

Commenting on the complaints of the non-functional streetlights, Satinder Singh said that the MC and UT Administration officials always had an excuse ready. They would say that they did not have the raw material to replace it. He said that when the department had no material then why was the corporation paying Rs 16 lakh every month to the administration for maintenance.

He said that a majority of the electricity meters installed for the streetlights were not functional and complained that even after spending a huge amount on streetlights, the residents were not getting the basic facility. Talking about his own ward he revealed that out of 762 streetlight poles more than 200 were not functioning. In fact in Sector 28 he had lodged FIRs thrice for the theft of streetlight bulbs.

Cutting across party lines, a majority of the councillors complained that they were also facing similar problem in their area. Independent councillor Gurcharan Dass Kala said that not even a single streetlight was functional in his ward on V-6 road and even after a number of reminders to the MC and UT officials, no action hadbeen taken.

Reacting to it, MC Commissioner VP Singh asked the Superintendent Engineer to table the status report on streetlights of the city in the next house meeting.

Congress councillor Satish Kainth also complained that in 2008, the corporation had allotted the work amounting to Rs 1.5 crore to a private contractor to install streetlight poles on the road from poultry farm to the railway station near Industrial Area Phase I, but till date the authorities had not mounted lights on these poles. Resultantly, the residents had not got any benefit from the infrastructure on which the authorities had incurred crores of rupees a long time ago.

On the sidelines

* Councillors of the BJP-SAD and Congress had heated arguments as unparliamentary language was used in the House.

* Councillors demanded that the constitution of the ward committees should be expidited, which was pending with the UT Administration.

* MC Commissioner instructed the Superintendent Engineer, Public Health, to monitor the staff allocated for the functioning of tubewells in the city.

Protest over development issues
BJP women councillors sat in the Well of the House and protested against the rejection of two development issues of road widening in Ward 4 tabled in the house on Wednesday. Objecting to the rejection of issues, BJP Councillor Asha Jaiswal threatened that until these proposals were not approved she would not move from the Well of the House. After the nominated councillors intervened, the issue was sorted out and proceeding of the house began.

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Metro's frequency to be 12 minutes during rush hours
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) in its detailed project report (DPR) has stated that for tricity residents the frequency of metro will be 12 minutes during peak hours.

During the peak hours, the frequency of metro will be 12 minutes whereas during lean hours the frequency will be 16 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the DMRC has also proposed the standard speed of Metro to be 36 kmph at the north-south corridor and 35 kmph at the east-west corridor in 2018. The maximum operating speed will be 85 kmph and the designed maximum speed will be 95 kmph.

To meet the demands of the ever-rising population, the DMRC has suggested that the frequency should be increased in the coming years 2018, 2021, 2031, and 2041.

In the DPR, the DMRC has proposed that the Metro should run at the frequency of every 12 minutes during peak hours (6 am to 7 am till 10 am, 5 pm to 7 pm) on both the proposed corridors in 2018. During the lean hours (10 am to 4 pm to 5 pm), the frequency of Metro will be 16-30 minutes on both the corridors.

In 2021, the frequency of the Metro will be increased to 10 minutes during peak hours while the frequency of Metro during lean hours will remain the same from 16 to 30 minutes.

As proposed by the DMRC, work on the 37.573 km-long Metro rail project will begin in 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2018. The DMRC has also proposed a total of 30 Metro stations in the two corridors in the phase I of the Metro project. The Metro will be underground within the sectoral grid of Chandigarh. Outside the grid, it will be elevated.

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One injured in brawl at Burail jail
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
A brawl took place amongst jail inmates of Burail jail this evening. An undertrial was beaten up by fellow inmates following an argument and was rushed to the GMCH, Sector 32, for treatment.

The police said that a group of undertrials got into a verbal spat which soon turned violent.

The police official present at the jail said the argument started over a minor issue of staring at each other which later got aggravated.

An undertrial, Sandeep, was thrashed in the barrack by a group of inmates. 26he was rushed to the Sector 32 hospital for first aid. The senior authorities have also recommended registering of a case in the incident.

However, Inspector Kirpal Singh, SHO, Sector 34 police station, said they had not received any complaint from the jail authorities.

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Dentist commits suicide
 Was depressed; had regular arguments with her fiance
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 29
A 27-year-old woman committed suicide by hanging herself from a window at her house in Mansa Devi Complex, Sector-5, Panchkula, in the wee hours today.

The victim, identified as Dr Alka Singh, was rushed to General Hospital, Sector 6, where she was declared brought dead. The woman is survived by her younger brother, father and mother.

A suicide note was also found from the spot where Alka had mentioned that no one was responsible for her death. Alka was putting up here with her brother Avinash, while her parents were residing in Delhi. The deceased had got engaged to a youth in the USA some time ago and was upset over their relationship. She had come from Delhi just two days ago.

“The woman had been under depression for the past few days as she had arguments with her fiancé regularly. That is why she committed suicide,” said Aruna Kumar, SHO of the Mansa Devi police station.

The deceased had done her MDS from Swami Devi Dayal College, Barwala, and was pursuing higher studies. Avinash is working with a call center.

“It was in the morning Avinash, brother of the deceased, got up and saw his sister’s body with a stoll around her neck, which was hanging from the window. He understood that she had strangulated herself and rushed her to the hospital, but she was declared brought dead,” added Kumar. Alka’s parents reached the city from Delhi as soon as they heard about the incident. Her father is a bank manager. 

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BJP candidate lodges plaint against Cong rival

Chandigarh, August 29
BJP candidate Bindu Rani, who is contesting elections from Ward 7, has lodged a complaint against Congress candidate Poonam Sharma to the returning officer. In a complaint, the BJP candidate alleged that Poonam Sharma had not filed her election expenses accounts book on time as she was an unsuccessful candidate in the Municipal corporation elections held in December, 2011. As stated in Section 97 of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (Election of Councillors) Rules, 1995, non-filing of details of expenditure would result in disqualification of the candidate as per section 10A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

She further alleged that Congress candidate had also failed to disclose that there was a police case (FIR number 335, dated December 15, 2011) at Sector 36 police station against her.

The above stated incident clearly makes out the case under Section 171-B and 171-C of the IPC. The BJP candidate requested that the candidature of the Congress candidate should be cancelled on the two grounds. — TNS

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Pedestrian killed near CTU lights
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
A pedestrian was crushed to death by a scooterist near the CTU lights today. The injured was rushed to the GMCH-32 where he was declared brought dead. He is yet to be identified.

Meanwhile, in another case, Ravinder Deswal, a resident of Burail village, alleged that his car was hit by another vehicle near Sectors 46, 47, 48 and 49.

Manjit Singh, a resident of Mohali, alleged that his three-wheeler was hit by a car near the roundabout of Sectors 46 and 47. The police has registered a case.

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Use of standard gauge recommended
Rajinder Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
n the detailed project report (DPR) submitted by the the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to the UT Administration, the former has recommended the use of a standard gauge in the Metro project.

The standard gauge, which is the most widely used system globally, has numerous technical and commercial advantages over the broad-gauge system.

In the DPR, it was stated that the standard gauge is cost-effective as compared to the broad gauge system. Standard gauge, which is used in a majority of countries, is a more competitive option to select spare parts and other accessories.

A senior official of the UT Administration said standard gauge coaches with 2.9 m width are smaller than broad-gauge coaches with 3.2 m. Besides, the standard gauge is better as it allows a low turning radius of 90 to 140 m as against 175 m for the broad gauge and this reduces the requirement of land when the Metro has to take a curving turn.

He added that the standard gauge would allow easier access through heavily congested areas of the city.

"Also, standard gauge lines reduce the engineering and civil costs of the project and later maintenance cost," he added.

The total project cost, including land cost and taxes of the Metro project, will be Rs 10,900 crore in the first phase. It includes development of the project in Chandigarh costing Rs 8,245 crore, Rs 1,427 crore in Punjab and Rs 1,228 crore in Haryana.

The tricity Metro project will have 30 metro stations, each at an average distance of 1.210 km on the north-south corridor and at an average distance of 1.206 km on the east-west corridor.

Four-coach trains

* The DMRC has proposed to run four-coach trains on both Metro corridors planned in the first phase. A fleet of 16 Metro trains of four-coach each has been proposed for 2018. It has been proposed to start the work in 2013 and complete it by 2018. x

* The corporation has proposed operation speed of Metro to be 36 kmph at the north-south Corridor and 35 kmph at the east-west corridor during the initial weeks. The maximum operating speed will be 85 kmph and the designed maximum speed of the Metro will be 95 kmph.

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Snake scare lands woman in hospital
Akash Ghai
Tribune News Service

Kamla, who was rushed
Due to wild growth all around, the dispensary has become an abode of snakes and other dangerous reptiles. "We have spotted snakes here a number of times," said a staff member. He added that they had requested the officials concerned to weed out wild growth, but nothing had been done so far. 

Inset (Kamla, who was rushed 
to a hospital.)

Mohali, August 29
It was a harrowing experience for Kamla Devi when a snake coiled itself around her leg while she was sleeping in the open at Phase I dispensary.

Fortunately, the snake did not bite her, but as she was scared, she had to be shifted to the Civil Hospital at Phase VI, where doctors referred her to the PGI in Chandigarh.

Kamla Devi lives in the dispensary with her husband Ghanshyam and two children.

"It was the biggest shock of my life," said Kamla Devi, while narrating the incident this morning.

When Kamla Devi's husband Ghanshyam tried to catch the snake to save his wife, it coiled around his arm. However, he managed to throw it away. "It was over two feet long. We were lucky that it did not hurt us or our children," said Ghanshyam.

Kamla Devi works as a cleaner at the dispensary while her husband irons clothes. 

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SUV goes on rampage, injures four

The Toyota Fortuner that hit a car, moped, cycle and an ice-cream vendor before ramming into an electricity pole near Sectors 33 and 34 in Chandigarh on Wednesday night.
The Toyota Fortuner that hit a car, moped, cycle and an ice-cream vendor before ramming into an electricity pole near Sectors 33 and 34 in Chandigarh on Wednesday night. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

Chandigarh, August 29
Four persons were injured when an SUV, said to be driven by a gunman of a minister, hit a car, moped, cycle and an ice-cream vendor before hitting an electricity pole near Sectors 33 and 34 today. 

The police said Toyota Fortuner (PIM 1), reportedly belonging to a close relative of a senior politician of Punjab hit a moped, Maruti car, which was being driven by Rohit. The car then hit a cyclist, Ranbir Singh, and Mukesh, an ice-cream vendor. The injured were rushed to the PGI. The police is yet to establish the identity of the moped rider. The driver of the SUV was arrested and an inquiry has been initiated. — TNS

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Mehak's kin knock at court’s door
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 29
Mehak's family has filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking justice. The hearing is scheduled for September 6.

It was on late Monday night when the Panchkula police arrested Mehak's husband Sandeep Garg in a dowry death case. Sandeep was produced in the court which sent him to a two-day police remand.

It was on August 19 when the body of 23-year-old Mehak was found under mysterious circumstances at the residence of her in-laws in Sector 16, Panchkula.

"The Panchkula police is shielding the accused. So we have moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court," said deceased's brother Rajeev Aggarwal.

He added that the police had not arrested Mehak's in-laws so far.

The autopsy report had raised serious questions as the same had revealed injuries on her body.

Sandeep, who is mum over the issue, told the police that he was there when Mehak's body was found. But he claimed that he was the one who cut the rope.

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UT IGP promoted
Tribune News Service

Pradeep Kumar Srivastava Chandigarh, August 29
UT Inspector General of Police Pradeep Kumar Srivastava has been promoted to the rank of Additional Director General of Police by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi.

He will remain posted in the UT as the Police Chief. The IPS officer had joined the Chandigarh Police on February 5, 2010.

During his posting as Inspector General of Police, UT Chandigarh, various schemes were launched for the modernisation of police, welfare of police personnel and infrastructure development. The officer has been given the President's Police Medal for meritorious services. He will continue to work as the DGP in Chandigarh.

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Raipurrani former councillor duped of Rs 7 lakh
  Victim bought an already sold 12-marla plot 
Hina Rohtaki
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 29
A former councillor, Subash Nishad, has been duped of Rs 7 lakh by a resident of Raipurrani under the pretext of selling a plot.

It was after the victim, who had given a sum of money in advance, came to know that the plot was already sold that he lodged a police complaint. A case was registered at the Raipurrani police station.

“I was told by a person that a resident of Raipurrani, Mohan Lal, wants to sell of his 12-marla plot. I met him and gave him Rs 1 lakh. We made a deal of Rs 1.22 lakh per marla. However, I paid around Rs 6 lakh as advance on March 6,” said Nishad.

He further added, “It was decided that the registry would be done on July 11. Till that time I had given around Rs 7 lakh as advance. Later, I came to know that this plot was already sold to some Akbar Khan of Panchkula, who had given an advance of Rs 4 lakh.”

He also told that Mohan Lal did not turn up on the day of register the plot in his name. When the victim told him to make a deed of advance money he refused and did not even give back the amount following which the complaint was made.

An advance of Rs 4 lakh was already paid by someone else
"I was told by a person that a resident of Raipurrani, Mohan Lal, wants to sell of his 12-marla plot. I met him and gave him Rs 1 lakh. We made a deal of Rs 1.22 lakh per marla. However, I paid around Rs 6 lakh as advance on March 6 this year. We decided that the registry would be done on July 11. Till that time I had given around Rs 7 lakh. Later, I came to know that this plot was already sold to some Akbar Khan of Panchkula, who had given an advance of Rs 4 lakh" — Subash Nishad, former councillor

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PU student election
Parties keep names of candidates under wraps
Amit Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Even as the campaigning for the upcoming student council elections is in full swing at Panjab University, the two major parties -- Panjab University Students' Union (PUSU) and Students' Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) -- have decided not to disclose the name of their presidential candidates.

The campaigning at departments and hostels has been going on for a month with party supporters meeting the students personally to garner support and votes; however, the candidates who would contest the elections are still a mystery for the voters.

SOPU chief Brinder Dhillon said close to elections, there were chances that rival groups would indulge in a brawl with the candidate and file a police compliant against him in a bid to declare him ineligible from contesting. According to the Lyngdoh committee recommendations, a student contesting elections should not have a criminal record.

“There have been instances in the past when rival parties tried to drag the candidates into police cases to get their nominations rejected,” Dhillon said.

Taking a similar step, the PUSU had also decided to keep the name of their candidate under wraps. “Any issue at the last moment can ruin prospects of a party in the polls. We try to keep the name of the candidate a secret to avoid any such situation,” said PUSU leader Sumit Gokhlaney.

Taking a cue from these major parties, other student parties are also delaying the declaration of their candidates. Student leader of a party said they made last-minute alliances with the dominating groups on the campus, which was possible only if they did not declare their candidates.

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Police plays party pooper
 UIET's cultural function interrupted midway due to security reasons
Amit Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The Chandigarh Police played spoilsport at a cultural function at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) today. The function -- Insignia -- held after taking permission from the university authorities was interrupted by the police due to security reasons.
Students present a dance performance during a cultural function; and (below) policemen interrupt the function midway at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday.
Students present a dance performance during a cultural function; and (below) policemen interrupt the function midway at the University Institute of Engineering and Technology at Panjab University in Chandigarh on Wednesday. Tribune photos: Manoj Mahajan

The event that included dance, theatre and rock band performances came to an end abruptly after the police forced the students to leave the venue. The UIET faculty was also attending the function when the incident took place.

Divyanshu Malhotra, a UIET student and one of the organisers, said they had taken the permission from the department and had also intimated the police about the event through a written communication. “It’s surprising that even after taking all the permissions, our function which was going-on peacefully was stopped,” he said.

The police had driven out the students on the pretext of maintaining security in the wake of the upcoming student council elections. The police also told the organisers to stop the function as loud music was being played at the venue by the disc jockey present there.

“We were shocked to hear pleas given by the police to stop the function as there was no disc jockey at the venue and even the music was not being played loudly,” he said.

A disappointed student said if the police was so scared that students might enter into a clash, then they should probably ask the department to shut down till the elections get over. “The students had practised for nights for their performances, and suddenly the police spoiled everything,” the student said.

UIET director Renu Vig told this correspondent that security was the main reason for the police to interrupt the function. There have been a few clashes between students at the UIET, following which the south campus of the university that houses the department had been turned into a fortress with policemen deployed at vital places. 

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Former student leaders enter campus to garner support
Amit Sharma
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
With the student council elections around the corner at Panjab University, student organisations are making all possible efforts to garner support. Parties including Students’ Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU), Panjab University Students’ Union (PUSU) and Indian National Students’ Organisation (INSO) have roped in their former student leaders to woo voters by campaigning at various departments. These leaders are holding regular meetings with party supporters.

SOPU leaders Brinder Dhillon, Harpreet Multani and Amit Bhatia are seen holding regular meetings with the new leaders and supporters.

Amit Bhatia, who was PU student council president in 2009, said their involvement made an impact on the students and helped in gaining their confidence.

Senior PUSU leader Simranjit Singh Dhillon said that he often visited the PU campus to meet party supporters and held meetings with them to devise a strategy for the upcoming elections. “Although I am not actively participating in the campaigning, I am holding meetings with the party loyalists,” Dhillon said.

Udey Wirring, another former PUSU leader, said although, he was not in the city, he was in a constant touch with the party supporters.

Former INSO leader Sukhdev Kundu, who is presently teaching at a university in Himachal Pradesh, was also seen back on the campus to assist the party. “Senior leaders coming back to the campus help party supporters gain confidence,” Kundu said.

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Colleges to hold polls too: Admn
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The student elections in all the city colleges will be held along with the Panjab University polls. Rejecting the appeal made by eight city colleges to cancel the elections, the UT administration has decided that the elections will be held in all the city colleges along with the university.

Repeated incidents of violence at the DAV College, Sector 10, in the last few years was one of the reasons for the principals of various colleges to appeal to the administration that elections should not be held in city colleges. 

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PU Senate 
Goyal camp dominates first phase of polls
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
Goyal camp made their rivals bite the dust in the first phase of Senate elections held today for six seats of faculties at Panjab University. While, GK Chatrath managed to win the election from faculty of laws, his entire team lost to the Ashok Goyal camp.

In a historic win, Goyal, a dominating sitting senator, won the election against RK Pathak in combined faculties with a record margin of 90 votes. While 150 votes were polled for Goyal, his rival from the Chatrath camp managed to get only 60 votes.

The only saving grace for GK Chatrath was his own win against young candidate Davesh Moudgil, a sitting councillor from the BJP in Chandigarh Municipal Corporation (MC) from ward no 22.

Chatrath, who is also a Senate member, won the elections with a margin of 14 votes, bagging a total of 23 votes while 9 votes were polled for Moudgil.

In the elections to the faculty of arts, Chatrath nominee Emanual Nahar lost elections against Goyal camp’s Rajesh Gill who won with a slight margin of five votes. While 41 votes were polled for Gill, Nahar got 36 votes.

Maintaining the victory rhythm, sitting Senator Keshav Malhotra, a close associate of Ashok Goyal, won the elections from the faculty of languages against another sitting Senate member Janmit Singh.

Janmit lost the elections with 37 votes polled for him while Malhotra bagged 61 votes.

From the faculty of sciences, Naval Kishore, also a sitting senate member, defeated Rajat Sandhir with a margin of 20 votes. While Naval bagged 56 votes, Sandhir secured 36 votes.

Naval Kishor’s victory turned out to be another major setback to the Chatrath camp, as he was earlier associated with Chatrath but this time decided to contest from the opposition.

At the end of the day, the elections for the faculty of medical sciences was held which was again dominated by the candidate from the Goyal camp. Dr Krishan Gauba won the elections by securing 44 votes while his rival AS Ahluwalia managed to get 23 votes.

KK Dhiman, principal of the homeopathic medical college and hospital, Sector 26, a Goyal camp nominee, has already emerged as a winner from the constituency of Principal of Professional and Technical Colleges with no nomination filed against him. There are a total of three seats under this constituency and other two candidates have also got elected unopposed.

Ashok Goyal said the trend would continue further with their candidates getting elected to the Senate with majority.

The elections on eight seats each for arts college principals and arts college teachers are to be held, apart from elections on 15 seats reserved for graduate constituency. Both the camps — Goyal and GK Chatrath — have fielded their candidates in these constituencies.

Elections on four seats reserved for PU teachers and three for the teachers of professional and technical college will also add to the majority for the ruling group.

GK Chatrath said that he was satisfied with today’s poll results and believed his supporters had stood by him. Elections on remaining seats were left which would decide the majority, he said. 

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Audience taken on historical journey
Tribune News Service

Dr Atamjit Singh Chandigarh, August 29
Audience at the recitation of a historical play “Gadhar Express” were introduced to several unsung heroes of the Gadhar movement. The event organised by Aitihasiki, the alumni association of the department of history at Panjab University, was held at the ICSSR Complex here today.

Punjabi playwright Dr Atamjit Singh, a Sahitya Akademi award winner, has written about several lesser-known heroes of the freedom struggle in his plays. To make his recitation look like staging of the play, he introduced each character individually. He employed his imagination to portray each character on a bigger social canvas. 

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Over 400 seats created for Class XI applicants
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 29
The UT education department has decided to create around 400 to 500 additional seats in Class XI under humanities stream in as many as 14 schools to accommodate students who failed to get an admission even after the third round of counselling got over recently.

The department will organise a special round of admission on September 4. Officials said no request for a change in the school or the stream would be entertained during this round. Applications of only those candidates would be considered who could not get admission in any of the schools in the three rounds of counseling, they said.

The schools where additional seats will be created include government schools at Sectors 23, 38 (W) and 45, and Sarangpur, Raipur Khurd, Dhanas, Kaimbwala, Mani Majra (Town), Mauli Jagran, Khuda Alisher, Khuda Lahora, Karsan Maloya, and Behlana.

School-wise seats will be made available on the department website on September 3 followed by the allotment of seats on September 4.

The applicants are required to fill application forms on a plain paper with original and 
photocopy of the Class X mark sheet, character certificate and category certificate if any. 

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