FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLI No. 307 | INDORE | TUESDAY | APRIL 15, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Netizens ROFL: ‘Rohit Never Disappoints!’ P.12 fp Briefs AYODHYA (UP) Security wall around Ram Temple A security wall spanning approximately four kilometres is being erected around the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and is anticipated to be finalised in 18 months, Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple Building Construction Committee chairperson Nripendra Misra on Monday said. Updates regarding the Ram Temple's construction were discussed on the third day of the meeting of the committee on Monday, officials said here. China’s visa curbs on US officials China has announced visa restrictions on “US personnel who have acted egregiously” on Tibet issues, two weeks after Washington imposed visa limits on Chinese officials involved in policies restricting foreigners’ access to the region. “Tibet-related affairs are purely China’s internal matters,” foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday as he announced Beijing’s decision on the reciprocal visa restrictions. Today in IPL MATCH NO. 31 PBKS Vs KKR CHANDIGARH; 7.30 PM (DETAIL ON SPORTS PAGE) ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE MONEY Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is angry with NOT MY WAR: Trump distances from Ukraine issue ANI WASHINGTON US President Donald Trump on Monday blamed the Joe Biden administration for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and claimed that the war would not have occurred if the 2020 election had not been "rigged." Sharing a post on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote, "The war between Russia and Ukraine is Biden's war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, I had no problem preventing it from happening. 4Continued on | P8 PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK BELGIUM ARRESTS MEHUL CHOKSI Ashish Singh & Charul Shah Joshi MUMBAI with the PNB bank fraud case. India’s first attempt to extradite Choksi had failed as the request was turned down by the government of Antigua in 2021. Besides, the attempt also backfired as Choksi in its defence had claimed that Indian officials tried to kidnap him from Dominica where he was allegedly honey trapped, the issue Choksi still uses in his defence. While India is preparing for Choksi’s extradition proceedings, his team of lawyers are taking it step by step, focusing to get him out on medical grounds. It is said that Choksi had moved to Belgium to avail treatment for cancer. Besides, the second major ground for defence would be Lathi-charge on VHP, Bajrang Dal protesters after Shobha Yatra violence FP News Service GUNA Police in Guna resorted to mild lathi-charge on Monday to disperse protesters from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who had gathered for the third consecutive day after stone-pelting during a Hanuman Jayanti Shobha Yatra disrupted peace in the town. Tension has gripped the area since Saturday evening, when stones were allegedly thrown at the religious procession near Colonelganj Mosque as it moved from Shivaji Nagar Mata Mandir. So DEWAS TEMPLE INCIDENT the incident in which the son of legislator Golu Shukla, Rudraksh Shukla, created a ruckus in a temple. Action may be taken against Shukla’s son because of the anger of the RSS Telangana first state to implement SC categorisation PTI HYDERABAD In Mhow, CM pays tribute to Dr Ambedkar that Choksi is no longer a citizen of India. The sources from the central agency claimed that as soon as Choksi moved out of Antigua to Belgium, Indian agencies revved up their attempt to extradite him six months ago in 2024. Indian law enforcement agencies indicated that he had traveled to Belgium, allegedly for medical treatment and to be with family—particularly his wife, who holds Belgian citizenship. Mehul Choksi, is said to have acquired citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 through their Citizenship by Investment Program, however, he never gave up his Indian citizenship which further complicated his legal status. Choksi had left India on January 2, 2018, claiming he was heading for better medical treatment. While fighting a battle in India against the plea of the Enforcement Directorate to declare him a fugitive economic offender, Choksi had claimed that he didn't leave India to avoid criminal prosecution nor is he refusing to return to the country. Telangana government on Monday issued an order on the implementation of Scheduled Castes (SC) categorisation, making it the first state in the country to do so, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy said. Telangana government had earlier appointed a commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice Shameem Akther on SC categorisation, which made recommendations that the 59 Scheduled Caste (SC) communities be divided into three groups viz I, II, and III for the total reservations of 15 per cent in government jobs and education. "The following Act of the Telangana Legislature received the assent of the Governor of Telangana on 8, April 2025 and the said assent is hereby first published on the 14th April 2025 in the Telangana Gazette for general information," the GO said. The issuance of GO coincides with the birth anniversary of BR Ambedkar, architect of Indian Constitution. 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Oops! UP cop mistakenly hunts judge instead of thief 6 from Raj held for assault on Jain monks in Singoli Faces court rebuke Biswajeet Banerjee LUCKNOW Chief Minister Mohan Yadav offers garland to the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar Announces new train launch FP News Service MHOW The 134th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated with great enthusiasm at his birthplace in Mhow on Monday. A large number of people gathered at the Ambedkar Memorial in the Kali Paltan area to pay their tributes. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav visited the site around noon and offered floral tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution. After garlanding Ambedkar’s statue, the CM paid homage to his mortal remains preserved in the memorial. Speaking to the media, Yadav accused the Congress of never fully acknowledging Ambedkar’s contributions. He later addressed a public gathering and praised Ambedkar's fight against social injustice and his efforts to ensure equality through education and constitutional rights. Yadav said Ambedkar envisioned the challenges India would face and worked to strengthen its democratic foundations. He expressed gratitude to PM Narendra Modi for declaring Mhow as one of the five key pilgrimage sites, or ‘Panch Teerth’, associated with Ambedkar’s life. The CM announced the launch of Ambedkar Express, a new train that will connect Mhow to Delhi via Rajasthan, making it easier for people to visit Ambedkar’s birthplace. 4Continued on | P8 Procession of accused taken out FP News Service NEEMUCH give him the right to behave in that way, Sharma said. An inquiry into the case is underway, and those found guilty will face the music, Shrma said. According to sources, an FIR may be registered against Shukla’s son. In a startling case of official negligence, a police officer in Uttar Pradesh's Firozabad mistakenly launched a search for a sitting judge after erroneously naming her as the accused in a proclamation order related to a theft case. The confusion came to light last month when Sub-Inspector Banwarilal, assigned to serve a court notice to theft suspect Rajkumar, informed the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Nagma Khan, that the accused — listed as "Nagma Khan" — could not be found at her residence, despite conducting a "thorough search." In a written communication to the court, Banwarilal stated, "When the attached NBW (non-bailable warrant) was served by me, a thorough search was conducted at the address of Nagma Khan, and no accused of this name lives at the said location. Therefore, you are requested to please pass further orders." 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Police resorts to mild lathi-charge to disperse VHP and Bajrang Dal protesters in Guna on Monday far, police have arrested 10 people in connection with the violence. On Monday, VHP and Bajrang Dal members gathered at Hanuman Chowk, demanding strict action, including bulldozer action, against the accused. Protesters raised slogans and attempted to march towards the Collectorate. 4Continued on | P8 which took feedback on the case. The RSS expressed its annoyance at the incident in which the priest of a temple was abused and beaten up. BJP’s state unit president VD Sharma hinted at action against the MLA’s son. A person may be anybody’s son, but it does not Golconda Blue Rare diamond set for auction T his historic diamond was once owned by the Maharajas of Indore and Baroda To fetch more than `300 crore The 23.24-carat vivid blue diamond, mounted in striking modern ring by celebrated Parisian designer JAR, is expected to fetch an estimated value between USD 35 & USD 50 million PTI NEW DELHI A rare piece of India's royal heritage, 'The Golconda Blue' -- a historic diamond once owned by the Maharajas of Indore and Baroda -- is set to make its auction debut at the Christie's "Magnificent Jewels" sale in Geneva on May 14. "Exceptional noble gems of this caliber come to market once in a lifetime. Over the course of its 259year history, Christie's has had the honor of offering some of the world's most important Golconda dia- E-paper Cinema Akshay Kumar seeks permission... P.14 LONG ARM OF THE LAW | Wanted for his involvement in the `13,000 crore PNB scam, his extradition may not be easy In a major breakthrough, fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi was arrested in Belgium on Saturday, April 12, following an extradition request by Indian probe agencies for his alleged involvement in the over Rs13,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam. Following his arrest, his lawyers are now preparing another set of legal battles first for his bail and later to contest the extradition. While India is gearing up for the extradition proceedings, sources reveal that a high-level Indian delegation, including officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, along with legal representatives from CBI and ED, is preparing to travel to Belgium. Their mission is to attend court hearings and push for India's case for Choksi's extradition, hoping to expedite the legal proceedings. This is India’s second attempt to bring him back. Choksi has been arrested after the extradition request sent by the Indian government to the Belgian Ministry of Justice in connection MUMBAI Edit BJP elated over southern ties P.6 Diesel demand growth falls to lowest since pandemic BJP TOUGHENS STAND AGAINST MLA’S SON, RSS ALSO ANGRY OVER INCIDENT FIR may be registered against Golu Shukla’s son UJJAIN FLASHBACK... ccording to Christie's, 'The Golconda Blue' once belonged to Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore, a modernist monarch celebrated for his refined taste and cosmopolitan lifestyle during the 1920s and '30s. In 1923, the Maharaja's father commissioned a bracelet featuring this extraordinary blue diamond from the A monds, including the Archduke Joseph, the Princie, and the Wittelsbach. "With its Royal heritage, French house Chaumet, after he had earlier acquired the famed "Indore Pears" -- the two significant Golconda diamonds -- from the same jeweller, they informed. A decade later, the Maharaja appointed Mauboussin as his official jeweler, who redesigned the royal collection and incorporated 'The Golconda Blue' into a striking necklace alongside the famed Indore Pear diamonds. extraordinary color, and exceptional size, 'The Golconda Blue' is truly one of the rarest blue diamonds in the world," Rahul Kada- kia, Christie's International head of Jewelry, said in a statement. 4Continued on | P8 Six youths from Rajasthan were arrested for assaulting three Jain monks with sticks at Balaji temple in Kachla village under Singoli police station on Sunday night. Neemuch SP Ankit Jaiswal confirmed the arrests and said all six accused were caught within hours of the incident. The accused were identified as Ganpat Nayak, Gopal Bhoe, Kanhaiyalal Bhoe, Raju Bhoe, Babu Sharma and a minor — all residents of Rajasthan. A video of the accused being paraded through the town by police went viral, showing them apologising with folded Police takes out procession of accused (FP Photo) Injured monks managed to alert nearby villagers with help of a passerby hands during the procession. Amid mounting anger, local Jain community members called for Singoli Bandh on RLJP quits NDA Bloc PTI PATNA Former Union minister Pashupati Kumar Paras on Monday announced that his Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party was no longer with the BJP-led NDA, which has chosen to back his estranged nephew Chirag Paswan. Paras, whose party came into being in 2021 as a result of the split he engineered in the Lok Janshakti Party, founded by his late brother Ram Vilas Paswan, made the declaration at a function organised here on the occasion of BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary. He also raised the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna on Ram Vilas Paswan, calling him the "second Ambedkar". "I have been with the NDA since 2014. Today I announce that henceforth my party shall have no links with the NDA," said Paras, who gave up his cabinet berth ahead of last year's Lok Sabha polls, when his nephew's Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) got five seats to contest as an NDA constituent. Among the seats contested by LJP(RV), all of which it won, was late Paswan's pocket borough of Hajipur, which Paras had bagged in 2019 and is now represented by Chirag Paswan, a Union minister. Notably, despite having been passed over by the coalition, Paras had tried, for some time, to have a toehold in the NDA by meeting top leaders like BJP president JP Nadda. In the bypolls to the five assembly constituencies held last year, his claim on one of the seats was ignored, and his proposed candidate joined the BJP, which gave a ticket to the latter's son. He was also mortified when the state government made him vacate the bungalow from where he ran his party and allotted it to Chirag. Paras had parted ways with his nephew, voicing disapproval of his rebellion against Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in the 2020 assembly polls. At the RLJP function, Paras, who formerly served in the Nitish Kumar government, also accused the JD(U) supremo of being "anti-Dalit" and claimed to have got a sense, "upon having toured 22 out of 38 districts", that "Bihar wants to elect a new government". "In Nitish Kumar's 20-yearlong rule, the education system has been ruined in the state, no new industries have been set up, and rampant corruption affects the implementation of all welfare schemes," he alleged. Monday. According to reports, the three Jain monks — Shailesh Muni, Balabhadra Muni and Munindra Muni — were staying at the temple when the accused approached them in an inebriated state and demanded money. 4Continued on | P8 PM meets man who vowed not to wear footwear till ... T he Prime Minister on Monday met Rampal Kashyap from Kaithal during a visit to Haryana's Yamunanagar, who had vowed 14 years back not to wear footwear until Narendra Modi takes over as PM. The Prime Minister made him wear footwear. "Aaj hum tumko joota pehna rahe hai par baad mai aaisa kuch karna nhi, kahbhi nahi. You should work, why you have done such a thing..giving yourself pain," PM Modi said.