Theme park case deferred
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The CBI court today deferred the hearing of arguments on the closure report filed by the CBI after handing the copies to the complainant in the case. The case will now come up for hearing on April 1, for arguments on the closure report. Last week, the CBI had filed the second closure report in the case.

The complainant, Vivek Aditya, who had filed a series of complaints with the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), pertaining to the allotment of multi-crore amusement-cum-theme park project, sought a copy of the closure report and time to file a reply. The court, considering his plea, adjourned the case till April 1, when the case will come up for arguments before the court decides whether to accept or reject the closure report.

The CBI had filed a closure report saying that there is no evidence against the former top bureaucrats of the Chandigarh Administration regarding alleged 'corruption' in the controversial Amusement-cum-Theme Park project.

The first CBI closure report was rejected by the court on May 18, 2012, and fresh probe was ordered on August 30, 2012. The scam involves the names of former UT adviser Lalit Sharma, former home secretary Krishna Mohan, former director (tourism) Vivek Attray and Unitech Limited through its managing director Ajay Chandra. All four were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, destruction of evidence and corruption by the CBI.

Rape bid: Court frames charges in fast-track trial
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge, Shalini Nagpal, today framed charges against an accused in a case of attempt to rape a minor girl. The case was registered on March 2.

The police had filed a chargesheet in the first-ever case registered under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. Within five days of the incident and charges were framed today. The accused was arrested on March 2 and is in judicial custody.

The police had arrested a 40-year-old labourer for attempting to rape a three-year-old girl. The accused has been identified as Ram Bahadur, alias Veer Bahadur, a resident of Kajheri village. The accused is victim’s neighbour.

In a complaint to the police, the victim’s family alleged that the accused, who was in an inebriated condition, took the child to a secluded area and attempted to rape her.

The victim raised the alarm and neighbours rushed to her rescue. The accused was thrashed by the residents of the area before being handed over to the police.

The victim’s father is an auto driver. The chargesheet has been file under Sections 8 and 18 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

Five sent to police custody for kidnap bid in Mohali
Our Correspondent

Mohali, March 12
Five persons arrested for attempting to kidnap a lawyer yesterday were remanded in the police custody for two days by a court here today. The accused, Ram Bhaj Garg and his son Rahul Garg, both residents of Green Enclave, Zirakpur; Amit Garg, a resident of Sector 32, Chandigarh; Dinesh Kumar of Sector 38, Chandigarh; and Vinod Kumar, a resident of Balaji Enclave, Zirakpur, were booked under Sections 364, 427, 506, 511, 148, 149 and 34 of the IPC.

Advocate HS Pannu had alleged he was called to a place in Phase IX here on the pretext of getting his legal services. When he reached the place, three vehicles surrounded his car, but he managed to escape.

They reportedly gave him a chase till Phase VII, where Pannu’s friends had gathered on his call.

On seeing them, they fled, reported Pannu, who pratices at the Mohali district courts.

Police remand of accused extended
Our Correspondent

Mohali, March 12
A court here today extended by two days the police remand of the three persons arrested in connection with laywer Amarpreet Singh Sethi's murder. Sethi was killed on February 27 following an alleged dispute over the parking of cars in front of his house in Phase III-A here.

The police had sought five days’ remand of the accused. The police is yet to recover the weapon used in the crime and also arrest the others involved in the incident.

Jaswinder Singh, son of an SGPC leader from Ludhiana, Onkar Singh and Sanbir Singh, both residents of Amritsar, have been arrested. The attackers carried unlicensed weapons

9 held for wrong parking
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
Continuing with its drive against wrong parking, the UT police today arrested nine persons here. Those who have been booked include three auto and car drivers, one bus driver and a Tata Ace vehicle driver. All the accused were booked for danger or obstruction in the public way or line of navigation under section 283 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They were later released on bail.

A total of three cases were registered at the Sector 31 police station while two were booked at the Sector 39 police station. One person was booked in Sector 19 and three at the Sector 36 police station.

The police arrested Rajiv Kumar, an auto driver of Sector 43, who was coming from the wrong side in auto (CH-04J-8631) near the outer gate of the ISBT-43. Karamjeet Singh of Sector 56 had parked his auto (PB-65J-2128) wrongly at Krishna Market in Sector 41 and Jasvir Singh of Dadu Majra village had wrongly parked his auto (CH-04L-1519) near Sector 36. Namdhar of Sector 53 had parked his auto (CH-19t-3575) in front of a wine shop, near Attawa Chowk.

Three car drivers were also arrested during the drive. Jitender Sharma of Sector 52 had wrongly parked his car (CH-01AN-4849) in the Sector 31 market,

Gaurav of Mohali had left behind his car (HR-26L-3131) in the Sector 47 market after parking it in a wrong manner. Similarly, Aniket Gupta of Sector 48 had wrongly parked his car (CH-04C-2857) at Mini Market, Sector-48.

Meanwhile, bus driver Sarabjit Singh of SAS Nagar was arrested for wrong parking. He had parked his bus (PB-12G-5106) near Sector 21-B. Amarjit Singh of Attawa was arrested for wrong parking of a Tata Magic (CH-02-AA-3457) in the main market in Sector 56. The police has booked around 25 motorists for wrong parking different areas of the city in the past three days.

Three eve-teasing cases registered
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
The UT police today arrested a resident of Behlana in a case of eve-teasing. The police arrested Satnam Singha who passed lewd remarks about a girl in Behlana village today. In another incident, a resident of Punjab alleged that the riders of a motorcycle (PB-12S-4544) passed lewd remarks about her near the Faidan barrier, Sector-48-49 on March 11. The police has registered a case in the matter at the Sector 31 police station.

In yet another case, a girl alleged that Vaseem of Colony Number 5, along with another person, tried to outrage her modesty on March 11. The police has registered a case at the Sector 34 police station. Vaseem has been arrested.

A city resident reported that unknown person abducted his 13-year-old daughter on March 11. The police has registered a case of abduction in Mani Majra.

A woman complained that attempts were made by a person to abduct her two-year-old-daughter. The police registered a case of abduction and criminal intimidation in the matter. Acting on a complaint, the police arrested Naveen, alias Nikhil, while making attempts to abduct the minor.

Windowpanes of car broken

Miscreants smashed the windowpanes of a car parked in Sector 20 last night. Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Sector 20 and an employee of the UT Health Department, reported to the police that in the morning he noticed the windowpanes of his car parked outside his residence were smashed.

Woman kidnapped in Panchkula
Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 12
A 29-year-old woman teacher was allegedly kidnapped after she went to a school in Sector 21 for an interview. The victim, Ranju, who hails from Yamunanagar, is married and was putting up at her in-laws' residence in Sector 21, Panchkula. A kidnap case under section 365 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 5 police station.

She was informed by the authorities concerned that the interview had been cancelled.

“We had advertised in a paper for a walk-in-interview. Three candidates had come. When they were told that the interview would not be held today, they left the school. The peon saw them leaving the school,” said Santosh Bhandari, Principal of the Sky school, Sector 21, Panchkula.

Cop hit by car
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
A UT police constable was injured after being hit by a car while he was on duty near the Sukhna petrol pump in Sector 28 this evening.

The police has booked the driver of the car for rash and negligent driving. The incident took place when a cavalcade of a VIP had just passed the Sector 28 lights and ASI Rasila and constable Varinder were regulating the traffic. A speeding car coming from the Tribune side rammed into the constable injuring him.

He was rushed to a hospital where his condition is stated to be stable.

Cricket craze leads families to hotel
Deepankar Sharda
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
Call it a craze for cricket or love for their children that has made two families, one from Delhi and another from Chandigarh, shift their base to the JW Marriott Hotel. They have been staying at the hotel for the past three days to provide their children a chance to take autographs and click photographers with their favourite cricket stars.

Eight-year old cricket fan Bikramjeet Singh and Mansehaj Singh are having a gala time as their families have booked two rooms in the same hotel where Australian and Indian cricket teams are putting up for their coming third Test, which will be held at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

"We have been putting up here for the past three days and will stay for one more day, so that these children can get a chance to click pictures with their favourite star Sachin Tendulkar and take his autograph. Both of them wanted to see these players, so we have come here. These children have a collection of bats, T-shirts, slam-books and other sports gear autographed by famous cricketers,” said Daman Marwah, Bikram's mother.

Among the two, Bikramjeet is a budding cricketer from Delhi. He represents his school in the boys' (U-7) tournaments as a batsman while Mansehaj is a hardcore fan of cricket. He remains present at the venue whenever a team arrives there.

“He Hindi exam is round the corner, but he is just focusing on getting autographs and pictures. It’s hard to make him study but he can manage anything, when it comes to cricket. It’s our duty to keep them happy and provide them with the best we can,” said Charanjit Singh, Manshej's father.

“I dream to be like Mahender Singh Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. I will keep these autographs and photographs to motivate myself towards the game. Although I miss Sachin’s autograph, I will try to get it tomorrow,” said Bikram.

“I like to collect autographs of my favourite cricketers. I wanted to be among one of them and make my parents proud one day. I will collect these pictures and autographs to keep them as a treasurer of my life,” said Mansehaj.

PU judokas dominate inter-varsity meet
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12
Panjab University students dominated the first day of the All-India Inter University Judo (men) Championship, which began today at the gymnasium hall of the university.

In the 56 kg category, Nitin from PU won the first position followed by Ravi Kumar from GNDU, Amritsar, on the second position and Kapil Goel of Delhi University and Vikas from MDU, Rohtak, on the third spot. In the 60 kg category, Amit from PU was the winner followed by Gaurav from Kurukshetra University and Balinder from Ch. Devilal University, Sirsa. In the 90 kg category, Ramanbir Singh from PU, Chandigarh, was the winner followed by Pawan of CCS University, Meerut, and Surender of MDU, Rohtak. The Dean University (Instructions), Panjab University, inaugurated the championship, which will be on till March 14.