Chandigarh, January 7
More than a year after advocates submitted a complaint regarding the embezzlement of funds in the construction of chambers at the district courts in Sector 43, the UT police today registered a case of cheating against the contractor.

The registration of the case came a day after the advocates had gone on a strike and suspended work in courts owing to the non-registration of the case.

Advocate Manjit Dhiman, secretary, district courts, had reported to the police that Rajesh Sood and his colleague, owner of Dream Group Construction Estate, Sector 11, Panchkula, had embezzled crores of rupees during the construction of chambers at the district courts. A case under Section 420 of the IPC has been registered at the Sector 36 police station.

It was alleged that the amount meant for the construction of the chambers at the new district courts was Rs 13.30 crore, but the contractor was given Rs 14.60 crore. An amount of Rs 1.30 crore in excess was paid to the contractor while 40 per cent of the work was yet to be completed at the time the complaint was filed. The entire project was then taken from the contractor and given to another contractor who finally completed the work and it cost an additional Rs 3.30 crore.

"The contractor embezzled funds while constructing the chambers and we had to scrap the contract midway and hire another contractor. Moreover, the floors, doors and windows of the chambers were also not constructed by him," said advocate Manjit Dhiman. The advocates had earlier moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI inquiry into the petition which was dismissed. They had also moved the PCA last year after the UT IGP refused to meet the advocates who had come to the police headquarters alleging no police action to their complaint.

"The police did not pay any heed to our complaint and it was only after we resorted to agitation that a case was registered. We had filed the complaint in October 2012," said Dhiman.

Chandigarh, January 7
The UT police have arrested a marketing professional, identified as Atul Vohra, for molesting and thrashing a woman residing in Sector 45. The woman claimed that the Sector 15 resident tried to force himself upon her in his car.

Narrating her two-hour ordeal, the woman reported to the police through an e-mail that she was picked up from Zirakpur and was taken to different sectors of the city. The woman knew the accused, but he tried to molest her.

When the woman raised the alarm, the accused thrashed her. The police are yet to recover the accused's car.

The medical examination of the woman has confirmed injury marks on her body. A case of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty has been registered at the Sector 17 police station and a probe into the case is on.

In another incident, a woman alleged that a resident of Dhanas passed lewd remarks on her this morning. Giving details, police sources said Dablu was arrested for passing lewd remarks. He was following the woman. A case under Section 354 of the IPC has been registered.

Mohali, January 7
The local police have booked a father-son duo after their 17-year-old domestic help levelled rape allegations against the father and charges of threatening her against the son.

Surprisingly, the daughter-in-law of the key accused, Gurdip Singh (58), took the victim to the court of the Mohali Judicial Magistrate, which directed the police to register a case against him (Gurdip Singh) and his son Gaganpreet Singh.

The police have registered a case under Sections 376, 506, 214, 201 of the IPC against Gurdip Singh, a resident of Pancham Society at Sector 68 while Gaganpreet Singh has been booked for threatening the victim to keep quiet. Both the accused allegedly offered money to the victim to conceal their alleged crime.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that she was raped on July 8, 2013, when Gaganpreet Singh and his wife Yashmeen had gone to meet some relatives. “Gurdip Singh came to the victim’s room at around 11 pm and raped her. Gurdip Singh had threatened the victim and also offered her money to keep quiet”, said the police.

The victim claimed that she had told about the incident to Gaganpreet Singh, who also threatened her and asked her to conceal the matter. “He too offered her money and also destroyed the evidences”, said the police.

When Yashmeen came to know about the incident, she produced the victim before the Mohali court on January 3, which immediately directed the police to register a case. As the Mohali Police did not take any action for two days, Yashmeen again approached the court yesterday, following which the police registered a case in this connection last night at the Phase VIII police station.

Panchkula, January 7
A quack running an illegal 'clinic' at Abhaypur village of Panchkula has been arrested. Officials from the state food and drugs administration caught the accused, identified as 23-year-old Sagar Sarkar, while examining patients and providing 'medical treatment' at 'Bengali clinic' in Abhaypur here this evening.

Posing as patients, senior state drug control officer Ripan Mehta and assistant state drug control officer Narender Ahuja visited the 'clinic' where Sarkar 'diagnosed' that the duo was suffering from high blood pressure. Soon, the police entered the room and rounded up the quack.

To their surprise, the visiting team of officials also found syringes that the 'quack' would use to inject 'medicine' into patients.

Later, the accused reportedly claimed that he was a sweeper at the clinic and his senior was out of the town. However, the team found that it was Sarkar who used to see patients.

Further, the officials found that the accused was selling medicines for which he did not have a licence. As many as 23 types of allopathic drugs were found on the premises of the 'clinic'. Besides, the officials also seized some antibiotics, which are used by senior doctors.

"The youth said his senior was out of station since January 2 and he was taking care of the clinic. But a woman patient there said it was Sarkar who used to see the patients. Exposed, the youth revealed that he had no degree. He said he could not even clear Class VIII examinations," said Mehta.

The official also said the accused did not have a registration certificate.

Panchkula, January 7
Some miscreants decamped with cash amounting to Rs 1 lakh from a house in Sector 15, Panchkula. The owner of the house, Srikant, was away for work when the incident took place. When Srikant came back from work, he found the lock broken and informed the police.

The police reached the spot registered a case against the unidentified miscreants. Further investigations were on, said a police official. 

Mohali, January 7
In the presence of several Punjab Olympians and other well-known sportspersons, sports administrators, state Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal inaugurated the Punjab Olympic Bhawan at Phase IX, here, today.

The state-of-the-art bhawan has been constructed at a cost of around Rs 3 crore. The main attraction in the bhawan is the ‘Hall of Fame’ in which pictures of top Punjab sportspersons will be pasted and busts of certain Olympics champions will be erected.

Besides, memorabilia of top sportspersons will also be displayed for visitors.

A world-class gym, a cafeteria and offices of the main office-bearers of the Punjab Olympic Association (POA) have also been set up here.

The Punjab Government has provided about half-an-acre on a 99-year lease to the association for the purpose.

While thanking the state government for extending help in the project, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, president of the POA, asked Sukhbir to provide funds to buy some advance gym equipment and for other expenses.

Sukhbir assured all possible cooperation and financial assistance from the Punjab Government.

The sportspersons and other dignitaries present included Abhinav Bindra, Olympic gold medallist, Balbir Singh Senior, Pargat Singh, Kartar Singh, Rajpal Singh, Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab Revenue Minister and Punjab Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa.

Chandigarh, January 7
Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Shivraj V Patil inaugurated a 10-m air gun shooting range at the Chandigarh Lake Sports Club, here, today.

The range, ‘Abhinav Shooting Gallery’, is named after international shooter Abhinav Bindra. The administrator also inaugurated a warm-up area for rowers and also watched horse riders in action at the complex here today.

While interacting with officers and sportspersons, Patil stressed that sports and games were an integral part of one’s life and the new concept of sports at the lake sports complex would boost local players. He also tried his hands at air rifle shooting.

Mentioning the well-designed shooting sports facility at the club, the Governor said the Chandigarh Administration had created good facilities in different disciplines of sports and the players must optimally use all these facilities for achieving the best results in national and international events.

He had also visited a photo exhibition by Nicola Colquhoun. Earlier, TS Dhillon, General Manager, Lake Sports Club, briefed the chief guest regarding the activities of the sports club and its future plans.

KK Sharma, Adviser to the Administrator, also tried his hands at shooting and archery. Olympic Gold Medallist Abhinav Bindra, who was also present on the occasion, appreciated the efforts of the administration.

Chandigarh, January 7
Qualifier Dylan Alec Foo Kune of Mauritius defeated Kris Van Wyk from South Africa in a one-sided match of the India ITF Junior-1 Grade Tennis Championship, being held at the CLTA courts, Sector 17, here, today.

Lalita Devarakonda returns a shot during a match at the CLTA courts in Chandigarh on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pradeep Tewari

The over two-hour match was won by Kune at 6-2, 7-6 (3). In the girls’ category, 2nd seed Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal defeated Fang Hsein Wu. She overpowered her rival in a three-set clash at 6-2, 4-6 and 6-2.

Qualifier Eklavya Singh went down fighting to Jay Clarke of Great Britain. In the 1st set, Jay serve to dominate and won it easily at 6-3 whereas in the 2nd round Eklavya broke Clarke’s serve twice and maintained a lead at 4-1. Meanwhile, Clarke fought back and levelled the score to 4-4. Later, local favourite Eklavya broke Clarke’s serve but given a set point to loose the match at 5-7.

Results

Boys’ singles - Dylan Alec Foo Kune bt Kris Van Wyk 6-2, 7-6 (3); Jay Clarke bt Eklavya Singh 6-3, 7-5; Justin Roberts bt Ankush Arora 7-5, 6-1; Sultan Singh Atwal bt Ho Jun Lee 6-2, 6-1.

Girls’ singles - 1st round - Raveena Kigsley bt Nandini Sharma 6-2, 6-3; En Shuo Liang bt Lalita Devarakonda 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Dhruthi Tatachar Venugopal bt Fang Hsein Wu 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Jaipet Anontaweesil bt Eeshita Pande 6-2, 6-0. 

Chandigarh, January 7
In a closely contested match, the team of the Accountant-General, Punjab, defeated the Accountant-General, Uttar Pradesh, 5-3 in a match of the North Zone IA&AD Hockey Tournament, being held at the hockey stadium in Sector 42, here, today.

Players of the AG Punjab and the AG UP in action during the North Zone IA&AD Hockey Tournament at the hockey stadium in Sector 42 on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

The host side dominated the first half. With the starting whistle, the strikers pressurised the rival’s defence and soon attained the fruit.

In the 3rd minute, Ravinder Singh (junior) drew first blood. He smartly placed the ball on the right flank of the goal to post the lead. Soon after the first goal, the Punjab side managed to penetrate again and scored the second goal through an awarded penalty corner.

In the 9th minute, Inderjeet Singh successfully sounded the wooden plank. Just after seven odd minutes, Deepanshu, for the Punjab side, posted the fourth goal.

Looking themselves behind, the losing side started to play their natural game. The defenders started making long clearance with the mid fielders holding the game. Sidharth Shankar, marched with the proceeding and managed to attain the first goal for the Uttar Pradesh side.

He posted the first goal in the 20th minute while Fardeen followed his footstep and reduced the margin further to 3-2 in the 25th minute. After break, both teams started playing and attacking the game but the host side played most of the ball possession with advantage of a goal.

In the 62nd minute, Deepanshu of Punjab posted the fourth goal and put the score to 4-2 but Sidharth Shankar of UP managed to reduce the margin (4-3) within a few minutes. The losing side tried their best to make a comeback, but a brace in the 66th minute by Punjab’s Mukul made them disheartened.

In the second match, the team of the Accountant-General, Haryana, blanked the Accountant-General (Audit), Delhi, 3.0. The Haryana side was awarded with 10 penalty corners and the team scored all their goals from the awarded corners. Gaurav Tokhi scored two goals, one each in the 13th and 43rd minutes, respectively, whereas Balwinder Singh Bhinder scored the last goal in the 66th minute of the game. The host Haryana team will face Accountant-General, Punjab, in the finals of the championship.

Chandigarh, January 7
The yoga performers of MBBGRGC Girls’ College, Mansowal (Hoshiarpur), won the Panjab University Inter-College Yoga Championship for Women (B-Division), being held at Postgraduate Government College, Sector 46, here today.

The MLBG Girls College, Tapprian Khurd, secured the runners-up position in the competition. The yoga performers of the Mansowal college scored 810 points whereas the runners-up team scored 606 points.

Gurpreet Kaur of Mansowal college with 66.67 points was declared the best ‘yogist’ whereas Ranjana Bhanot of the college secured 59 points to bag the second spot.

Chandigarh, January 7
On the second day of the ongoing 59th National School Games of Badminton for Girls (U-14, U-17, U-19), the team from Delhi defeated Navodaya Vidyalaya 2-0, at the badminton hall of Sector 42, here, today.

Sanya Sethi of Chandigarh in action on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Parvesh Chauhan

In the second match of the girls' (U-17) category, the team from Gujarat defeated Kerala (2-0).

Results

Girls (U-17) - Delhi bt Navodya Vidyalaya 2-0; KVS bt Himachal Pradesh 2-0; Gujarat bt Kerala 2-0; Maharashtra bt Chhattisgarh 2-0; Odisha bt Uttarakhand 2-0; Andhra Pradesh bt Uttar Pradesh by 2-0; Tamil Nadu bt Chandigarh 2-0; Assam bt Haryana 2-0; Girls (U-19) - Maharashtra bt KVS 2-0; Delhi bt Haryana 2-0; Gujarat bt Kerala 2-0; Punjab bt Tamil Nadu 2-0; Vidya Bharti bt Daman and Diu 2-0; Chhattisgarh bt Uttarakhand 2-0; Chandigarh bt Odisha 2-0; Karnataka bt Puducherry 2-0; Girls (U-14) - Assam bt Himachal Pradesh 2-0; Maharashtra bt Rajasthan 2-0; Gujarat bt West Bengal 2-0. 

Chandigarh, January 7
The Chandigarh Rowing Association will conduct the State Senior Rowing Championship for Men and Women at the Lake Club, here, on January 19. The championship will start at 7.30am. 

Interested players can confirm their entry with PK Singla, honorary secretary of the association, or with Arvind Sehgal, rowing coach, before January 18 (6pm). — TNS