Friday, June 6, 2025 | 29 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 209 | www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION EAM Jaishankar meets all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha GAMES Cinema Aamir Khan gives us some love advice Difficult to replace Bumrah but we have enough quality in squad for England tour: Gautam Gambhir Edit How cricket turned into a perilous game of aspirations UNANSWERED QUESTIONS | Seemanth Kumar Singh is new B’luru police chief as 4 cops suspended ■ Probe by retd judge ordered ■ HC slams poor planning, seeks SOPs ■ FIRs filed; NHRC launches inquiry as questions mount over crowd control Karnataka govt goaded into action after court steps in FPJ News Service BENGALURU Even as the Karnataka High Court took suo motu cognisance of the stampede in which eleven cricket fans died in Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, Karnataka government suspended three IPS officers, including Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayanand and two other senior police officers, holding them responsible for the stampede at RCB victory ceremony. The government also moved to appoint a judicial inquiry commission headed by retired high Court judge Justice Mi- Don threatens to cut Musk’s govt contracts S President Trump threatened to cut Elon Musk's govt contracts as their fractured alliance escalated into a public feud on Thursday. Hours after Trump lamented his breakup with Musk and said he was “disappointed” in his former backer and adviser and Musk responded on social media, Trump escalated the feud by threatening to use the US govt to hurt Musk's bottom line. Trump said: “Elon was ‘wearing thin,’ I asked him to leave, I took away his EV Mandate that forced everyone to buy electric cars that nobody else wanted (that he knew for months I was going to do!), and he just went crazy!” “The easiest way to save money in our budget, billions and billions of dollars, is to terminate Elon's governmental subsidies and contracts,” Trump wrote in another post. “I was always surprised that Biden didn't do it!” Responding sharply, Musk rebuked Trump's claim and said he was fine with reducing the EV credits if lawmakers ‘ditch the mountain of disgusting pork in the bill’. Soon he accused the prsident of ingratitude. “Without me, Trump would have lost the election, Dems would control the House and the Republicans would be 51-49 in the Senate,” he said on X. “Such ingratitude,” he added. “Oh and some food for thought as they ponder this question: Trump has 3.5 years left as president, but I will be around for 40+ yrs…” the billionaire responded. U ‘Let Ukraine & Russia fight for a while’ Trump said it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia “fight for a while” before pulling them apart and pursuing peace. In an Oval Office meet with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump likened the war in Ukraine to a fight between two young kids who hated each other. “Sometimes you are better off letting them a fight for a while and then pulling them apart,” Trump said, adding he had relayed that analogy to Putin in their talks on Wednesday. The US president still left the threat of sanctions on the table. He said sanctions could be imposed for both Ukraine and Russia. “When I see the moment where it's not going to stop ... we'll be very, very tough,” Trump said. chael J Kunha and handed over the investigation to CID. A decision with this regard was taken in the cabinet meeting on Thursday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that along with B Dayanand, Additional Commissioner of Police Vikas Kumar Vikas, DCP (Central) Shekhar, ACP (Cubbon Park) Balakrishna and Cubbon Park Inspector Girish were suspended for dereliction of duty, resulting in stampede that killed 11 persons, injuring others. The cabinet also directed the immediate arrest of representatives of RCB management, KSCA management and DNA Entertainment management for the lapses on their part. Suo motu. With those two words, the Karnataka HC earlier in the day sliced through the fog of official silence, stepping in where the state administration had faltered. The bench, led by Acting CM V. Kameshwar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi, took suo motu cognisance of the stampede outside M. Chinnaswamy Stadium that killed 11 people and injured at least 75 more. The victims had gathered to celebrate the RCB long-awaited first IPL title in 18 years — a dream that, in a matter of minutes, turned into a nightmare. 4Contd on | Nation Bereaved father, in black, of Divyanshi, a victim of the stampede in Bengaluru, Karnataka, on Thursday. —PTI CET centres to remain in Maharashtra Vikrant Jha MUMBAI The Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell will no longer set up examination centres outside the state for its pre-entrance exams. Students from other states wishing to appear for the CET to secure admission to courses within the state must travel to an in-state examination centre. Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil told the media about measures aimed to curb malpractices in the examination process. The decision follows concerns raised after the recent five-year law entrance exam results, announced late Wednesday, revealed that four candidates from a single centre in Patna achieved perfect percentile scores. 4Contd on | Nation LANDLORD-TENANT DISPUTES SC urges Bombay HC to take timely action Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the prolonged pendency of landlord-tenant disputes and has urged the Chief Justice of the Bombay HC to examine the matter and take corrective action to ensure timely resolution. A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Manoj Misra, while hearing two cross-appeals stemming from a December 2024 Bombay HC judgment, called for a detailed report on the period of pendency in such Tech threatens trust in judiciary, says CJI New guidelines on tackling graft cases Tata, Dassault to make Rafale fuselages Ravikiran Deshmukh MUMBAI The Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, has cautioned against allowing technology to dominate the justice delivery system, warning that such over-reliance could undermine public trust in the judiciary and weaken the foundation of the rule of law. The courts must strike a balance between tradition and innovation, ensuring that technology remains a tool, not the driver, in judicial processes, he said. “The moment we let technology take the driver’s seat in the legal system, we begin to erode the public’s faith in us and with it, the foundations of the rule of law,” Gavai said, citing former CJI DY Chandrachud’s observation that technology should serve to expand access to justice, not replace human judgment. Gavai was delivering the keynote address at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law in London, on the theme “Courts, Commerce & the Rule of Law”, on Wednesday. Justice Gavai stressed that as courts increasingly engage with digital tools and commercial realities, they must not lose sight of their fundamental duty to deliver justice with humanity and fairness. “Each case represents someone’s hope for justice. Unlike computer algorithms, the law is not meant to blindly follow trends or optimise for engagement. It is rooted in fairness and principle,” he said. Facing criticism over non-compliance with cases registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against tainted officials, the state government has issued new guidelines to remove hurdles. The 8-page guidelines have been issued by the General Administration Department (GAD) headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Department, under whom the ACB functions. As per data with the ACB, the approval is pending in 355 cases, of which 305 cases are pending for more than three months. The police department tops with 80 cases, of which 65 cases are pending for more than three months either with the state government or with the competent authorities. The Rural Development Department holds number two position with 58 cases, followed by the Revenue Department with 47 and the Urban Development Department with 45 cases. It has emerged that various state departments have not suspended 178 government employees even though they fulfil the stipulated criteria. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation BR Gavai, CJI In a low-key ceremony on the rooftop of a Berlin palace, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, 51, married former BJD MP Pinaki Mishra, 65, on May 30. The wedding, attended by close friends and family, marks a rare instance of two senior Indian politicians tying the knot overseas. Taking to X, Moitra thanked everyone for their wishes. “Thank you everyone for the love and good wishes!! So grateful,” she posted. Though their pairing had long been the subject of quiet political whispers, the couple kept their plans under wraps. Sources close to them said Berlin was chosen to avoid a public spectacle. The couple is currently on honeymoon in Europe and is expected to return to India by the end of June reported Anand Bazar Patrika. Moitra had informed TMC chief Mamata Banerjee before leaving for her wedding break. Her personal life had earlier made headlines, notably for a turbulent fallout with Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, which escalated into a public feud involving ethics allegations in Parliament. The episode culminated in her suspension for several months, following complaints from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Moitra was previously married to Danish banker Lars Brorson, while Mishra’s first marriage was to Sangeeta Mishra, with whom he has two children. Both began their political careers in the Congress. Moitra joined the TMC in 2010 and entered Parliament in 2019. Mishra, once a Congress MP, later joined the BJD and served multiple terms from Puri before being dropped in the 2024 election — reportedly due to his growing closeness with Moitra. Now united in matrimony, the two veteran politicians are writing a new chapter far from the glare of Indian political life — at least for now. from the concerned courts regarding the period of pendency in landlord-tenant disputes. Should it be found that there are many such instances as the present case, then appropriate steps should be taken or directions issued to further the cause of expeditious disposal of these Agencies cases,” the court said in its order. The apex court noted that disputes between landlords and tenants often involve a monetary dimension and delays can result in undue hardship to both parties. FPJ News Service MUMBAI matters across courts under the HC’s jurisdiction. The top court has asked that appropriate steps be taken if delays are found to be systemic. “We request the learned Chief Justice, High Court of Judicature at Bombay, to take up this issue and call for a report LONDON The moment we let technology take the driver’s seat in the legal system, we begin to erode the public’s faith in us and with it, the foundations of the rule of law Mahua, Pinaki’s Berlin vows 4Contd on | Nation Agencies Production facility to be set up in Hyderabad, and the first one will roll off the assembly line in 2027-28 MUMBAI French aerospace company Dassault Aviation has signed four Production Transfer Agreements to manufacture the Rafale fighter aircraft fuselage in India, in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems. "This facility represents a significant investment in India's aerospace infrastructure and will serve as a critical hub for high-precision manu- facturing," a joint statement said Thursday. Under the scope of the partnership, Tata Advanced Systems will set up a cutting-edge production facility in Hyderabad for the manufacture of key structural sections of the Rafale, including the lateral shells of the rear fuselage, the com- With sindoor sapling, PM spreads a green message Biswajeet Banerjee A new spiritual milestone was achieved in Ayodhya on Thursday with the grand Pran Pratishtha (consecration) ceremony of the Ram Darbar at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple complex. Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath participated in the sacred rituals as the chief guest, underscoring the occasion’s spiritual and cultural significance. The Ram Darbar, installed on the first floor above the sanctum of Ram Lalla, features intricately 4Contd on | Nation Trump probe into Biden’s mental fitness FPJ News Service Agencies NEW DELHI WASHINGTON Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked World Environment Day on Thursday with a strong call to deepen environmental efforts and a symbolic gesture — planting a sindoor sapling at his residence, gifted by women who had shown exceptional bravery during the 1971 war. The act, blending ecology with national sentiment, also served as a tribute to Operation Sindoor, India’s recent military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In a post on X, Modi said, rubies. These were flown in by chartered plane and handed over to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. “These offerings are symbols of national devotion,” said trust member Dr Anil Mishra. Carved from rare, 40-yearold marble, the idols underwent rigorous scientific testing by IIT Hyderabad. Sculptor Satyanarayan Pandey said the marble’s strength and longevity make the figures capable of lasting a thousand years. Donald Trump has called for an investigation into Joe Biden’s actions during his presidency, accusing his aides of orchestrating a ‘conspiracy’ to hide the true state of Biden’s mental health from the public. As per the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) report, Trump took aim at the aides' use of an autopen - a device that replicates signatures which presidents, including Trump, have used for decades - to sign executive actions. "This conspiracy marks one of the most dangerous and concerning scandals in American history," Trump said on Wednesday. Biden slammed Trump's move as "ridiculous", saying his claims are aimed at distracting Americans as his administration works to extend tax breaks for the wealthy. Trump and his Republican allies have long questioned Biden's mental acuity and have attempted to overturn some of the presidential pardons and federal rules issued at the end of his term in office. A Republican-led panel has sought testimony from some of Biden's closest aides, including his first chief of staff, on his "mental and physical faculties" while he was leading the country. 4Contd on | Nation 4Contd on | Nation “This plant will remain a strong symbol of the valour and inspiration of the women of the country.” The sapling, rich in cultural significance, was handed to him during a recent visit to Gujarat, where he met the women. 4Contd on | Nation Ram Darbar consecrated at Ayodhya temple AYODHYA plete rear section, the central fuselage, and the front section. The first fuselage sections are expected to roll off the assembly line in 2027-28, with the facility expected to deliver up to two complete fuselages per month. "For the first time, Rafale fuselages will be produced outside France. This is a decisive step in strengthening our supply chain in India. carved idols of Lord Ram, Sita, Lakshman, Bharat, Shatrughan, and Hanuman. This event follows 498 days after the historic consecration of Ram Lalla on January 22, 2024. The rituals were performed between 11:25 and 11:40 AM, coinciding with Ganga Dussehra and the rare Siddha Yoga, believed to amplify spiritual energy. “This is a divine alignment. The consecration in Ayodhya and Rameshwaram on the same day symbolically connects India’s spiritual geography,” said Mahant Amrita Das, a senior seer. Vedic ceremonies began at dawn with chants, conch sounds, and the fragrance of havan fires filling the air. CM Adityanath arrived at 10:30 AM and offered prayers at Hanumangarhi before heading to the temple. He performed the abhishek (ritual bathing) of the idols and took part in the unveiling of the Ram Darbar. The idols were adorned with ornaments donated by Suratbased businessman Mukesh Patel, including a 1,000-carat diamond, 30 kg of silver, 300 grams of gold, and 300 carats of