Chandigarh, March 6
A CBI court today framed charges against 12 accused in the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (SSC) entrance test scam, which came to light in September 2011.

Naveen Sehgal, former regional director of the SSC, Haryana, and 11 others have been charged with cheating attempt, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence under Sections 420, 511, 468, 471 and 201 of the IPC.

The accused are in the dock for allegedly committing forgery, cheating and other irregularities during the written exam for posts of sub-inspector in CRPF, ITBP and other paramilitary forces.

The written exam was held in Ambala district in September, 2011, and nine candidates were selected from one room of an exam centre.

The CBI grew suspicious about SSC officials when it learned that the nine candidates, who were selected, had taken the test in one room and all of them were sitting in a row. During the preliminary probe, the offences were established against Sehgal and others.

Four teams of the CBI also conducted searches at the houses of nine candidates, who had cleared the written exam, in Bhiwani district and seized some valuables.

Two candidates, who failed to clear the written exam, had filed a written complaint with the CBI in this regard.

The CBI had filed a chargesheet in the case in November last year.

While framing the charges against all the accused, the court stated that Sehgal, in conspiracy with co-accused, dishonestly attempted to cheat the SSC and got manipulated the conduct of examination for recruitment of sub-inspectors in central police organisations and intelligence officer in Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) at Jain Senior Model School, Ambala city.

"The seating plan was adjusted by committing forgery for the purpose of cheating by altering roll numbers, application forms of the accused candidates were replaced and forged documents were used as genuine with full knowledge that they were forged. Later, when the CBI initiated the preliminary inquiry, the first page of the application forms of six candidates were replaced as correction fluid was used on the forms at the time of adjusting the seating plan," stated the court.

Two of the accused had turned approvers in the case on October 24 last year and are now witnesses in the case.

Chandigarh, March 6
A local court today framed charges against Punjab Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Raka Gira under various sections of the Arms Act.

The Chandigarh Police had booked Gira under the Arms Act in July 2011 after a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from her residence during a CBI raid.

The CBI had arrested the DSP while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from a builder for settling a case against him. The CBI had raided the palatial residence of the DSP in Sector 15 and recovered weapons. A .32 bore German revolver and a double barrel gun were found in her residence apart from 1,237 cartridges, including 831 of .12 bore, 114 of .38 bore, 114 of SLR and two cartridges of sniper live.

The UT police had then registered a separate case under the Arms Act against her as she did not have an arms licence. The ammunition was kept in two iron boxes in a store.

Last year, the court had dismissed Gira’s application seeking discharge from the case registered under the Arms Act.

The case of bribe registered against her is being heard separately in the CBI court.

Chandigarh, March 6
High drama was witnessed at a house in Sector 7 today evening when two burglars allegedly thrashed a man who caught them red-handed while committing a theft at his house. While a burglar was nabbed after a scuffle, his accomplice managed to flee.

The victim sustained eight stitches on his head due to the beating. The incident took place when the victim, Anand Singh Bhandari, an electrician at Hotel Mountview, returned home from work.

Upon reaching, Bhandari noticed that two unidentified persons were fleeing with valuables from his house. He rushed to nab them but was allegedly thrashed with iron rods by the duo.

After much resistance, Bhandari cried for help. A burglar was apprehended with the help of a neighbour.

The area residents immediately informed the police and Bhandari was rushed to the GMSH-16.

The victim claimed that the burglars decamped with two gold rings, two diamond rings and Rs 30,000.

The victim and his wife were away to work when the miscreants struck. Bhandari’s father Matha Singh, a supervisor at Haryana Secretariat, was away to Uttarakhand. Bhandari told the police, “The burglars were present at my house when I arrived. One of them attacked me with a baseball bat. I managed to nab one of the accused with the help of my neighbours Anand and Manish.”

The accused was identified as Kishan Kumar, a resident of Ramdarbar. Kumar was taken into custody and the stolen valuables were recovered from his possession. A case has been registered at the Sector 26 police station.

Zirakpur, March 6
The body of Gurpal Singh (22) of Green Enclave here was found under mysterious circumstances near a canal at Ghanauri village, near here today. He had been missing since February 25.

A case was registered at the Zirakpur Police Station on March 3. Though family members of the deceased suspect that it was murder, the police are waiting for the autopsy report. — TNS

Mohali, March 6
The local court today acquitted two persons, including a woman, in a rape case. Gurminder Singh (33), a resident of Rora village in Kharar and Surjit Kaur (47) of Kubbaheri village have been acquitted.

The police registered a case against the duo in January last year at the Kharar Sadar Police Station on the complaint of a 19-year-old girl, who had alleged that she had been repeatedly raped by Gurminder.

She alleged that she had come into contact with him through Surjit. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 6
Chandigarh’s Digvijay Pratap Singh entered the final of the boys’ (U-14) category in the ongoing HTA-AITA Super Series Tennis Tournament being held at Harvest Tennis Academy, Jassowal, in Ludhiana. He will face Himanshu Mor of Haryana in the final of the championship.

In the semi-finals played today, Digvijay Pratap Singh outclassed his rival Rohan K Reddy of Andhra Pradesh in straight sets. Digvijay played a sensible game and outclassed his rival at 6-0 and 6-3. In the second semi-final, 3rd seed Himanshu Mor of Haryana defeated Amit Beniwal in a well-contested match at 2-6, 6-4 and 7-6(6).

Results

Boys’ (U-14) singles semi-finals: Digvijay Pratap Singh (CH) bt Rohan K Reddy (AP) 6-0, 6-3; Himanshu Mor (HR) bt Amit Beniwal (HR) 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(6); Girls’ (U-14) semi-finals round (singles): Vaidhehi Chaudhari (Guj) bt Yubrani Banerjee (West Bengal) 6-3, 6-0; Sarah Dev (PB) bt Shaik M Anjum (AP) 6-1, 6-0; Boys’ (U-16) semi-finals round (singles): Parikshit Somani (AS) bt Gurjot Singh Sidhu (PB) 6-2, 6-4; Mritunjay Badola (UK) bt Adil Kalyanpur (AP) 6-3, 6-3; Girls’ (U-16) semi-finals round: Baani Singh (PB) bt Sarah Dev (PB) 6-1, 6-4; Vaidehi Chaudhari (GJ) bt Yubrani Baneerjee (WB) 6-2, 6-2; Boys’ (U-14) semi-finals doubles: Sahishnu Sharma and Devasish Singh bt Naman Sherawat and Ishan A Sethi 6-7(5), 6-2, 10-4; Vipul Mehta and Sacchhit Sharma bt Divesh Gahlot and Aakash Ahlawat 6-4, 6-2; Boys’ (U-16) semi-finals doubles: Amit Beniwal and Adil Kalyanpur bt Ishaque Eqbal and Parikshit Somani 6-7(0), 6-3, 10-6; Mritunjay Badola and Gurjot Singh Sidhu bt Sagar Bains and Abhimanyu Rozra 6-4, 6-4; Girls’ (U-16) semi-finals (doubles): Sarah Dev and Baani Singh bt Nisha Rani and Avishka Gupta 6-0, 6-3; Vaidehi Chaudhari and Yubrani Baneerjee bt Rishika Sharma and Abhirami Prakasan 6-0, 6-1. — TNS

Chandigarh, March 6
International golfer Jeev Milkha Singh inaugurated a golf fitness centre and a pioneering programme at the Chandigarh Golf Association’s Golf Range here this evening.

The Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) launched these two initiatives for children aged between six and eight years; nine and 12 years; and 13 and 16 years.

The programme, National Initiative for Golf in Schools (NIGS), is initiated under the aegis of the Indian Golf Union. It will enable young schoolchildren of the city to play golf and spark an interest among them.

“This facility will help generate interest for golf among children. I will enrol my son under the same programme once he turns five. This is a good step to encourage the youth of the city to play golf,” said Jeev.

Jesse Grewal, a renowned coach, said the programme was aimed at building an athletic body and an agile mind of young golfers.

“In golf swing, the club head reaches a speed of 100-120 miles per hour, which takes a toll on the fitness of golfers. This is a perfect way to achieve a consistent level of fitness and also a sharp golfing mind,” he said.

Chandigarh, March 6
The Chandigarh Carrom Association has selected seven players (in both boys’ and girls’ category) to represent the city in the 43rd Senior National and Inter-State Carrom Championship scheduled to be held at Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) from March 9 to 14.

The championship is being organised by the All-India Carrom Federation and hosted by Varanasi District Carrom Association under the auspices of Uttar Pradesh Carrom Association. The members of the boys' team are Mohammad Talib, Mohammad Hassan, Gagandeep Singh, Neeraj Bharti and Saquib Hussain, while the girls team comprises of Tuba Sehar and Farheen.

Chandigarh, March 6
The korfball team of Panjab University (Men and Women) won third position in the All-India Inter-University Korfball Championship.

It was organised by Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, from February 25 to February 28. A total of 21 teams participated in the championship.

The winning team members include Hardeep Singh (captain), Aditya Nandal, Sombir Singh, Anin Singh Brar, Ramandeep, Jaideep, Prateek Bindal, Raghav Sood, Manpreet Kaur, Rajni Monga, Hareetinder Kaur Gill, Ishu Sharma, Sweety, Payal Rawat, Anu Gautam, Kiran; Navdeep Dahiya (coach) and Krishan Kumar (manager).

Chandigarh, March 6
The women's team of Panjab University stood runner-up at the All-India Inter-University Yoga Championship organised by Kurukshetra University from March 1 to 4.

Simandeep Kaur, Priyanka, Pooja, Sangeeta, Nisha Dhaundiyal and Yogita were members of the team.

The men's team comprising Amit Kumar, Mandeep Singh, Ashish Gehlawat, Anil Kumar, Sanjay Singh and Amit Kumar stood third in the same championship.

A total of 122 teams had participated in the championship.

The teams were coached by Dr Mahender Singh and Amandeep Kaur.