Chandigarh, August 14
The Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Anubhav Sharma, convicted two persons of a multi-fraud case, dating over a decade ago.

The court convicted Puneet Nanda, 42, and Rajiv Dugala, who had been running Cossets Marketing Private Limited, Sector 26, Chandigarh, as MD and director, respectively, under the Prize Chit and Money Circulation Scheme (Banning) Act.

The court while disposing of 45 challans filed against Nanda and Dugala imposed a penalty of Rs 1.12 lakh each on the convicts.

“Even if the investors did not support the prosecution in terms they should have, yet from their statements, it can be observed that they had invested money in the company with a belief that without anything else than enrolling members, they would be earning by way of incentives. Just by adding members alone, a person would have benefited increasing the profits,” read the court order.

The UT police booked Nanda and Dugala in 2002 on complaint by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on charges of duping residents of money. However, charges of cheating and duping residents were not proved.

The complainant submitted that the multi-level marketing company that had started operations in 2001 had enrolled three lakh members and had 40 centres across the country. The investors had made several complaints against the company of large-scale fraud. However, the company directors got a reprieve when the then Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), BD Bector, marked the case ‘untraced’ and the company kept operating unhindered.

The investigation was then transferred to the then UT DSP Devinder Singh Thakur and then to the then Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Vijay Pal Singh. 

Chandigarh, August 14
The UT police have booked two persons for allegedly tampering with a cheque of a city- based person. The complainant, PN Khanna, a resident of Sector 7, has also mentioned names of senior bank officials in the complaint.

The incident came to light on Wednesday, when Khanna registered a complaint.

The complainant alleged that the accused tempered with a cheque, which he had handed over to a bank on July 20, to be submitted to his personal account at Allahabad Bank. Instead of submitting the amount to his account, the cheque was submitted to an account of Satnam Singh. The amount was allegedly altered as well. It was increased up to Rs 28,16,000. According to Khanna, an amount of Rs 8,16000 lakh was to be transferred to his another bank account.

When he did not receive any SMS alert, Khanna contacted the bank officials for inquiring about the cheque. But the bank officials, PK Verma and MR Joshi, did not provide him with satisfactory answers. “When I visited the bank with a letter to stop the payment the next day, I was told that the cheque had already been cleared on the name of Satnam Singh,” said Khanna. The police have registered a case against Satnam and Gurdeep, along with others, under sections 380, 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the IPC.

Chandigarh, August 14
A team of the UT Health Department raided a leading general store in Sector 17 and seized e-cigarettes on Wednesday. The nodal officer, Tobacco Control Programme, Chandigarh, Dr Deepak Bakshi, said, “The material has been sent to the CFSL, Chandigarh, for testing.”

Panchkula, August 14
In a broad daylight incident, a theft attempt was foiled at the residence of a BJP leader’s house in Sector 10 today when he had gone out to buy vegetables. When the victim, Meher Chand Thakur, returned, he saw thieves inside the home. He raised an alarm following which the thieves ran away. The neighbours also saw the two miscreants running away from the home. They appeared to be in the nine-14 age group.

Thakur had gone to the Sector 5 market while his wife was away for work. When the victim reached his home, he found the lock of the gate broken and bolt of the door locked from inside.

“In a gap of mere 20 minutes, someone broke into his house. Had he been alone, they would have attacked Thakur,” said BB Singhal, a relative.

The police reached the spot and a complaint has been registered in this regard.

The broad daylight incident has exposed the weak patrolling by police personnel. Panic gripped the residents after the incident.

Kharar, August 14
A small-time shopkeeper was found lying murdered in front of his kiosk at Gadaga village here this morning. The victim, identified as Narayan Dass of Gadaga, was attacked with some sharp-edged weapons. Deep cuts and injury marks were visible on his face and abdomen.

Nakshatar Singh, a panchayat member of the village, said Narayan had been residing in the village for the past 30-35 years.

“He was a cigarette vendor and was running his kiosk in front of the bus stand in the village,” said Nakshatar. He said after getting information about the incident, the police reached the spot and registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC against some unidentified persons.

Chandigarh, August 14
St Stephens, Sector 45, bagged the Inter-School Badminton Championship in the under-14 boys’ category. The match was held in the Sector 42 stadium.

The silver medal was bagged by Tender Heart, Sector 33, and bronze was clinched by KBDAV-7.

In the boys’ under-17 category, the title was clinched by St John’s High School, while silver was bagged by Ryan International, Sector 49. AKIPS-41 claimed the bronze medal.

In the boys’ under-19 category, Government Model Senior Secondary School (GMSSS), Sector 16, bagged gold, while, SGGSCPS-26 bagged silver and DAV-8 bagged bronze.

In the under-14 girls’ category, Sacred Heart, Sector 26, clinched gold, DPS-40 bagged silver and St Annes, Sector 32 bagged bronze.

In the under-17 girls’ category, Scared Heart, Sector 26, clinched gold, DPS-40 bagged silver and AKSIPS-41 bagged bronze.

In the under-19 girls’ category, Sacred Heart, Sector 26, clinched gold, GMSSS-23 bagged silver and DAV-15 won bronze.

Chandigarh, August 14
In the final of the girls under-17 Inter-School Kabbadi Tournament, Government Model School (GMS), Kishangarh, defeated Government High School, Sector 41, 26-04 and paved way to glory.

The third place was bagged by GMHS, Mani Majra. Meanwhile in the girls under-19 category, the first place was bagged by GGMSSS-20. The quarterfinal of under-17 boys will be held on August 19. — TNS

Mohali, August 14
On the fourth day of Sardar Bhagwant Singh Memorial Inter-Basketball Tournament being played at Vivek High School, Sector 70, Mohali, the host team again hogged limelight by defeating Manav Mangal School, 18-05, in the boys’ under-16 category.

Anmol Kiran Singh and Prabhmehar scored six points each.

In another match, under the same category, St Stephen’s School, Togan, beat Doon International School, 26-22. Gurkirat Singh from St Stephens scored 18 points.

In the under 16 girls’ category, Manav Mangal Smart School beat Swami Ram Tirtha School, 21-08. Maneet netted 12 baskets and triggered school to victory. On the other hand, YPS, Mohali, beat the Gurukul World School, Mohali, 13-10, and St Soldier’s School beat the Millennium School, 19-06.

An aggressive match was played between Manav Mangal Smart School and Doon International School wherein, Manav Mangal School won the match, 18-12.

In the under-14 boys’ category, YPS, Mohali, beat Shamrock School, 20-06.