FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 25 | INDORE | THURSDAY | JULY 3, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY Sports SHASTRI SLAMS BUMRAH SNUB P.12 PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit Custodial death bedevils DMK P.6 ‘Economy to grow 6.8-7% in Q2’ Cinema Lone warrior P.14 MAJOR DIPLOMATIC WIN | Group condemned the April 22 attack in the strongest terms and strongly pitched for action against cross-border terrorism Quad takes aim at Pahalgam terror attack perpetrators Govt lacks clear provision to probe plaints against mins May set guidelines in the coming days Nitendra Sharma BHOPAL Agencies PORTS OF FUTURE WASHINGTON The Quad grouping has called for bringing the perpetrators, organisers and financiers of the Pahalgam terror attack to justice without any delay and urged UN member nations to extend cooperation for it. The foreign ministers of the four-nation grouping met in the US capital on Tuesday to firm up a broad agenda for the bloc's annual summit in India later this year. The Quad condemned the April 22 attack in the strongest terms and strongly pitched for action against cross-border terrorism. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers, however, did not mention Pakistan or the fp Briefs DUBAI Iran halts IAEA cooperation Iran's president on Wednesday ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities, likely further limiting inspectors' ability to track Tehran's programme that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. The order by President Masoud Pezeshkian included no timetables or details about what that suspension would entail. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi signalled in a CBS News interview that Tehran still would be willing to continue negotiations with the US. See World The Quad plans to launch the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership in Mumbai this October This is to coordinate, exchange information & best practices, and mobilize government & private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region. This will complement the work Quad partners have done to boost infrastructure expertise across the Indo-Pacific region through the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships Program. Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi, from left, EAM S Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington four-day military conflict between the Indian and Pakistani militaries in May. The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her Japanese counterpart Takeshi Iwaya. "We express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and extend our heartfelt wishes for a swift and full recovery to all those injured," they said. "We call for the perpetrators, organisers, and financiers of this reprehensible act to be brought to justice without any delay and urge all UN Member States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard," they added. The Quad foreign ministers also expressed serious concern over Beijing's military State Bank of India has decided to classify the loan account of beleaguered telecom firm Reliance Communications as "fraud" and report the name of its erstwhile director Anil Ambani to the Reserve Bank of India. The move is expected to be followed by other lenders who have given loans to Reliance Communications Ltd. Reliance Communications, in a regulatory filing, said it has received a letter dated June 23, 2025, from State Bank of India (SBI) to this effect. NEW DELHI Three Indians abducted in Mali India on Wednesday expressed deep concern over abduction of three Indian nationals in Mali amid a series of terrorist attacks in various parts of the West African country. A day after the Indians were abducted, New Delhi on Wednesday called upon the Mali government to take all necessary measures to secure their "safe and expeditious" release. after the complaint. The plaint was sent to the Prime Minister’s Office. The PMO sent the complaint to the office of the Chief Secretary, which forwarded it to the principal secretary (PS) of the PHED. On the basis of the letter, PS forwarded the complaint to the Engineer-in-Chief (E-in-C), who directed two officers to probe the case. The E-in-C does not have any authority to inquire into the complaint. But the government is unable to say anything about what action should be taken in such cases. According to sources, the government may set guidelines to deal with such cases in the coming days. The ministers also come under the definition of a public servant. Complaints against them may be sent to Lokayukta and EOW. But before sending the complaints to any probe agency, one has to take permission from the government under Section 17A. Nevertheless, there are clear provisions that the probe agencies do not have to take permission from anyone in case the minister is involved in corruption in their personal capacity. On the other hand, the government does not have any authority to set up an inquiry against a minister. According to a senior officer, the government is not clear about what kind of inquiry should be set up against the minister to sift through the complaint. But if there is any complaint against a minister, it can be sent to the chief minister, who can take a decision over the issue. Heavy rains lash isolated regions of state Anyone differing from party Rainfall in the last 24 hrs line will be in trouble: Hemant Warning of very heavy rains I’m a simple party worker, says Khandelwal as he takes charge of state BJP Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The newly elected BJP state president, Hemant Khandelwal, hit the ground running on Wednesday and spelt out his priorities. Calling his elevation a responsibility, he said every party worker will get their due, and, at the same time, anyone differing from the party line will be in trouble. Khandelwal was making his first address as state unit chief at the event where he was declared the new president, succeeding V.D. Sharma. He challenged the Congress to manage a ward-level elec- Former state BJP chief VD Sharma welcomes Hemant as he assumes charge as the new state party president CM on Congress Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, CM Mohan Yadav said that those who killed the Constitution choose to walk around with a copy of it, assuming they are above the law. tion in the same manner as the BJP held the poll for its state unit chief. Speaking about his strategy to lead the party, Khandelwal said that every worker would be assigned responsibilities according to their capabilities. He pointed out that earlier, Heir won’t be from China: Dalai Lama Agencies there was the belief that the BJP could not complete a fiveyear term, but Shivraj Singh Chouhan dispelled it by doing so much for the public that the party now wins successive elections. 4Continued on | P8 Hasina sentenced to six months in contempt case PTI DHAKA DHARAMSHALA The 14th Dalai Lama, just days before turning 90, has ended years of speculation by announcing that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue after his death and that his successor will not be chosen from China. In a video message released on Wednesday, the Tibetan spiritual leader said that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, a foundation set up by him, will have the sole authority to identify the next Dalai Lama. “No one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” he stated. "I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue.” The video message set off cheers from more than 100 monks in Dharamshala. 4Continued on | P8 In the last 24 hours, Rajgarh received 155.2 mm of rain, Guna 125 mm, Biora 107.2 mm, Khilchipur 94.6 mm, Piparia 89.2 mm, Bhopal 77 mm, Vijaypur 75 mm, Baihar 71 mm, Karahal 69 mm, Amarwada 52.2 mm, Paraswada 63.5 mm, Tendukheda- Damoh 59.4 mm, Sohagpur 58 mm, Ambah 46 mm. Amarwada 52.2 mm, and Betul 50 mm. issued for various districts NEW DELHI SBI to tag RCom account as fraud muscle-flexing in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. "We reiterate our strong opposition to any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion," they said without directly mentioning China. The Quad meeting also announced the grouping's plan to launch a Quad Ports of the Future partnership in Mumbai this year. The government lacks any clear provision to probe complaints against the ministers. The personnel department probes complaints against the IAS officers, the home department deals with inquiry against the IPS officers, and the forest department investigates plaints against the IFS officers. But the government is in short of clarity about who will probe the complaints against the ministers. The case has led to a debate after former legislator Kishor Samrite complained about the minister of the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Sampatiya Uikey. There was an order for an inquiry against the minister Government is not clear about what kind of inquiry should be set up against the minister to sift through the complaint Beijing rejects plan China responded sharply, stating that the next Dalai Lama must be chosen through the “golden urn” method and be approved by the central government. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty. In 1995, after the Dalai Lama identified a boy as the 11th Panchen Lama, Chinese authorities abducted him and appointed their candidate, who remains rejected by most Tibetans. B angladesh's deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina was on Wednesday sentenced to six months in prison in a contempt of court case by the International Crimes Tribunal, while it now tries her on a major charge of committing crimes against humanity in absentia. A three-member panel of the tribunal-1 (ICT), led by Justice Golam Mortuza Mozumder, simultaneously sentenced to two months a fugitive leader of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Shakil Akanda Bulbul, in the same case. It marks the first time that 77-year-old Hasina has been sentenced in any case since she left office in August last year. 4Continued on | P8 A spell of heavy rains lashed Bhopal, resulting in overflowing drains and waterlogging in low-lying areas on Wednesday morning. Throughout the day, light showers continued in the city. Isolated regions of the state also received spells of heavy to moderate rains. More than two dozen districts experienced rain. The rivers are in spate. Meanwhile, the weather department has issued a warning of very heavy rains in some places in Mandsaur, Neemuch, PM on 5-nation tour, reaffirms BRICS pledge Assam police book Raja’s sister over social media post NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Ghana, in his a week-long visit to 5 countries inlcuding Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The visit aims to strengthen India’s ties with the Global South and reinforce India’s commitment to BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS, CARICOM. Modi’s first stop is Ghana, where he will be on July 2–3 at the invitation of President John Dramani Mahama. 4Continued on | P8 RAJA MURDER CASE Our Staff Reporter INDORE The high-profile Raja Raghuvanshi murder case has taken a new turn. While the main accused in the murder are behind bars in Meghalaya, Assam Police have now registered a case against Raja’s sister Shrasti Raghuwanshi, over a viral social media post, alleging that it hurt religious sentiments. A notice has also been served summoning her to Guwahati Sidhi, Satna, Shahdol, Maihar, and Singhrauli. Heavy rains along with thunder activities and high velocity winds are likely to occur in sundry parts of Sehore, Rajgarh, Alirajpur, Meanwhile, Raja’s brother Vipin Raghuvanshi, has raised new suspicions against accused Sonam. He claims that two mangalsutras (sacred marriage necklaces) were recovered from Sonam, even though the family had given only one during the wedding. Vipin suspects that after Raja’s murder, Sonam returned to Indore and married her lover Raj Kushwah. for questioning. Shrasti is a social media influencer. Following Raja’s murder, she shared several posts and videos. In one of these videos, she claimed that her brother had been given as a ‘human sacrifice’ and that the matter was linked to ‘some religious background in Agencies WASHINGTON Amid mounting backlash over US President Donald Trump's reported plans to deport naturalized citizens, a viral petition on MoveOn, a out. In addition, Melania's anchor baby, Baron, should be forced to leave as well because we know that his mother's mother was born in a different country. That is Assam.’ Her statement went viral but also led Assam Police to file serious charges against her. Police have described her video as content capable of provoking religious and regional sentiments. 4Continued on | P8 First batch of Cong wanted to usurp Rs 2,000 cr National Herald assets: ED tells court Amarnath IANS NEW DELHI The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday told a court here that the Congress party wanted to usurp around Rs 2,000 crore assets of the nowdefunct National Herald newspaper. Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the ED, submitted before the Rouse Avenue Court that a conspiracy was hatched to form Young In- dian Ltd -- in which Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi are majority stakeholders -- to acquire control over the newspaper's vast assets aimed at benefiting the party leadership personally. ASG Raju added that several senior Congress leaders were involved in "fake transactions” made to Associated Journals Limited (AJL), the original publisher of the National Herald. According to the ED, individuals were making fraudulent advance rent payments over several years at the direction of senior Congress functionaries with fabricated rent receipts. 4Continued on | P8 Deportation calls for US first lady gain traction progressive advocacy platform, called for the deportation of First Lady Melania Trump, her parents, and son Barron Trump--arguing that Trump's own family should not be exempted from the policies he championed. The petition stated, "Since Trump wants to deport naturalized citizens, I believe it is only fair that Melania and her parents are on the first boat 4Continued on | P8 New suspicions against Sonam offgrid Petition questions Trump’s naturalised citizen policy Jhabua, Dhar, Indore, Ratlam, Ujjain, Agar, Guna, Ashok Nagar, Shivpuri, and Sheopurkalan. part of the criteria that Trump is putting into place. Your mother's mother has to have been born in the United States and we know Melania's mother was born elsewhere. If it's good for one, it's good for all! There should be no exceptions! On the first boat or flight out!" The petition further argued that the move would prevent perceptions of favoritism, adding, "If this is truly about national security, then Melania needs to go!" The remarks reflected growing public frustration over what many viewed as double standards in Trump's deportation agenda. According to Fox News, the petition surfaced just days after Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters, during an anti-DOGE protest in Los Angeles on March 25, suggested that Trump should investigate and potentially deport Melania Trump. "When he [Trump] talks about birthright, and he's going to undo the fact that the Constitution allows those who are born here, even if the parents are undocumented, they have a right to stay in America. 4Continued on | P8 Yatra pilgrims flagged off PTI JAMMU Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims numbering over 5,880 amid multi-tier security cover, marking the beginning of this year's pilgrimage from here. The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high shrine will commence on July 3 from the Valley via the twin tracks - the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. A batch of 5,892 pilgrims, including 1,115 women, 31 children and 16 transgenders left the base camp in the first batch at 4.30 am to join the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, officials said. The yatra will conclude on August 9. More than 3.31 lakh devotees have registered so far for this year's Amarnath Yatra, officials said.