FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 226 | BHOPAL | WEDNESDAY | JANUARY 28, 2026 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Atiqa makes history with stunning WSK debut P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit CJI’s vision for high courts P.6 AIM TO IMPLEMENT INDIA-EU FTA BY END OF 2026: GOYAL Cinema Ethos of Mardaani is good versus evil P.14 SC declines MOTHER OF ALL DEALS | PM Modi and top EU leadership unveil grand agenda to leverage plea against trade and defence to shore up ties amid a fractious world order VIP darshan at Mahakal temple IANS NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a petition challenging the practice of ‘VIP darshan’ and selective entry into the 'Garbhagriha' of the Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain. A bench, headed by CJ) Surya Kant, observed that it was not a matter for judicial interference. Sensing the court's disinclination to entertain the plea, the petitioner’s counsel chose to withdraw the matter with liberty to make a representation before the authorities concerned. "Whether it should be allowed or should not be, it’s not for the apex court to decide. Ideally, maybe. But for that, let those who are at the helm of affairs take a decision, not the courts," the bench, also comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi, observed. The special leave petition challenged the Madhya Pradesh High Court order, which had dismissed the public interest litigation against alleged preferential treatment being given to VIPs to enter the 'Garbhagriha' to offer water to the deity, while denying access to the general public. 4Continued on | P8 INDIA-EU SEAL FTA PM Modi double engine pitch PTI NEW DELHI India and the European Union on Tuesday sealed a landmark free trade agreement -- billed as "mother of all deals" -- with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the top EU leadership unveiling a grand agenda to leverage trade and defence to shore up ties amid a fractious world order. The two sides also inked two crucial pacts -- one on security and defence collaboration and another on the mobility of Indian talent to Europe -- after Prime Minister Modi hosted EU leaders Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa for summit talks. In line with their vision for a rules-based global order, India and the 27-nation bloc rolled out a joint comprehensive strategic agenda for the next five years and firmed up a total of 13 pacts including one on the conclusion of negotiations for the FTA. In his remarks, Modi said the global order is in "great turmoil" and in such a context, the partnership between India and the EU will strengthen stability in the international system. Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for a "double engine" growth approach amid "turmoil in global environment" as India and the European Union signed the "historic" free trade agreement (FTA) on Tuesday. "There is turmoil in global environment; India-EU will provide stability to world order," the PM said ‘Delivering security in insecure world’ PM Narendra Modi with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during their meeting in New Delhi Rs 6.4L-cr export boost Zero-duty on gem, jewellery EC chief flaunts OCI card ‘Europe funding war against itself’ States across India are set to benefit from the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with exports estimated at Rs 6.4 lakh crore expected to gain access to 27 EU markets under a single trade framework, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said in a post on X. The FTA is expected to enhance market access for Indian products across a wide range of sectors. Zero-duty access under the India-EU Free Trade Agreement could help double the bilateral gems and jewellery trade to USD 10 billion (around Rs 91,000 crore)over the next three years, the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council said. This removes 2-4 per cent duties on precious jewellery, unleashing huge export potential with the 27-member EU countries, home to the world's elite buyers European Council President Antonio Costa showed his overseas Indian card during the joint press meet. "I'm the President of the European Council, but I'm also an overseas Indian citizen. Then, as you can imagine, for me it has a special meaning. I'm very proud of my roots in Goa, where my father's family came from and the connection between Europe and India is something personal to me" The US has warned that Europe is financing a "war" against itself by signing the "mother of all trade deals" with India. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Europe may have significantly phased out direct energy ties with Moscow, but they are indirectly funding the RussiaUkraine war by purchasing Russian oil products refined in India, even as Washington targeted New Delhi with tariffs 3 MoUs inked for generating 4k MW power at Rs 60k cr Pacts were signed with Adani, Torrent Power & Hindustan Thermal Project in presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav HIGH COURT TO STATE GOVT ‘Submit comparative chart on promotion policy 2025, Rule 2002’ Our Staff Reporter Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL BHOPAL Three MoUs were inked for three power plants in the presence of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Tuesday. The MoUs were for the production of 4,000 MW at a cost of Rs 60,000 crore. The power plants will be set up in the Anuppur district. The Managing Director of the MP Power Management Company Vishesh Garhpale; SB Khyalia of Adani Power Limited; Ratul Puri of Hindustan Thermal Projects, and Jigish Mehta of Torrent Power signed the MoUs. Additional Chief Secretary High Court, principal bench at Jabalpur, on Tuesday directed state government to submit a comparative chart explaining how lacunae pointed out in R.B. Rai case (2002) have been addressed in new promotion policy, 2025. The next hearing has been fixed for February 3. The order was passed by division bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Anusuchit Jati–Janjati Adhikari Evam Karamchari Sangh (AJJAKS) withdrew its CM Mohan Yadav shows MoU at CM House on Tuesday. (Energy) of the CM’s Secretariat, Neeraj Mandloi, was also present at the meeting. Nearly 8,000 people will get jobs, directly or indirectly, through the power projects to be set up on the basis of design, build, finance, on-andoperate model. The power plants have been given through a competitive bidding process. Hindustan Thermal will generate 800 MW, Torrent Power 1,600 MW, and Adani Power Limited 800 MW. 4Continued on | P8 Rijiju: Process SC suggests attachment of on to impeach properties of acid attackers by the top court, noted the Justice Varma IANS submission that 15 High NEW DELHI The process to impeach Allahabad High Court judge Ya s h w a n t Varma is underway and the government is awaiting the report of a three-member committee set up by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to probe charges against him, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Tuesday. Birla set up the committee on August 12 last year to probe corruption charges against Justice Varma after admitting a multi-party notice for his removal. Justice Varma was repatriated from the Delhi High Court to the Allahabad High Court. The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the pendency of acid attack cases across the country and called for more stringent measures, including the attachment of properties of convicts to ensure meaningful compensation to victims. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, while hearing a PIL seeking enforcement of guidelines earlier laid down Courts have so far furnished details of pending acid attack cases. As per the status report placed before the apex court, Uttar Pradesh alone has 198 pending cases, followed by Gujarat with 114, West Bengal with 60, Bihar with 68 and Maharashtra with 58 cases.In its order, the CJI Kant-led Bench noted that reports from the remaining High Courts are still awaited. 4Continued on | P8 petitions challenging validity of Rules 11 and 12 of Promotion Rules, 2025. Earlier, AJJAKS had questioned the new promotion policy, arguing that it does not provide any mechanism for meritorious reserved category officials to avail promotion benefits under unreserved (UR) category, which should be open to all categories. Appearing for Samanya Pichhda Alpsankhyak Kalyan Samaj (SAPAKS), advocate Anmol Shrivastava said the government has been given a last opportunity to clarify its stand in next hearing. 4Continued on | P8 BHAGIRATHPURA TRAGEDY Our Staff Reporter INDORE Indore Bench of High Court on Tuesday verbally dubbed the report on Bhagirathpura deaths “vague and merely an eye-wash” and slammed the government for use of term ‘verbal autopsy’ in it. Division Bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi held a hearing of over two-and-ahalf hours on the public inter- BHOPAL On Republic Day, students of a government high school in Bhatigwan, Maihar, were served halwa-puri on torn pages from old notebooks and books instead of plates. A video of the incident went viral on social media, triggering widespread outrage. Earlier in November 2025, a similar incident was re- Action taken Maihar administration A shocking incident of onesided love turned violent when a young man entered the house of a woman and attacked her mother and brother with a knife on Monday night. The attack resulted in the death of the woman’s brother, while her mother is undergoing treatment in a city hospital and her condition is stated to be critical. Aerodrome police station in charge Tarun Singh Bhati informed Free Press that the incident took place at the about 30 per cent of the affected area, covering a stretch of 9.5 kilometres. The Bench questioned the credibility of the report and expressed serious dissatisfaction with its contents. The Bench took objection to the use of the term “verbal autopsy” in the report and asked whether it was a medically recognised concept or an expression “invented” by the authorities. 4Continued on | P8 tice to District Panchayat’s Midday Meal Branch incharge and DPC Vishnu Tripathi for negligence. A proposal for suspension of Government High School principal Sunil Kumar Tripathi has been forwarded to Commissioner of Rewa. Moreover, the one-month salary of contract employee BRC Pradeep Singh has been deducted. has moved swiftly following public outrage. Taking cognisance, Maihar collector issued a show-cause no- 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter Halwa-puri served on waste paper to students ported in Sheopur, where mid-day meals were served on scrap newspapers. In the Maihar clip, students are seen sitting on the floor while eating. It is claimed that the person filming was stopped by organisers, but continued recording. Officials reportedly tried to cover up the incident once the video spread online. ADG training Raja Babu Singh on Monday asked madrassa students to read Bhagavad Gita along with Quran, saying it has enlightened humanity for centuries. He was interacting with students of a madrassa in Doraha village of Sehore district through video conference on Republic Day. Singh said maulana of madrassa is his old friend and had requested him to address students on the occasion. “During interaction, I asked students about subjects they read and suggested they also read Bhagavad Gita along with Holy Quran, as it has been enlightening humanity for centuries,” he said. Singh congratulated students for education they are receiving and asked them and their teachers to develop concern for environment conservation, scientific temper and tolerance. He also told students that India is a vast country and it is duty of every citizen to uphold its “integrity and unity, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari”. INDORE offgrid Our Staff Reporter "Today India has concluded the biggest free trade agreement in its history. "It will facilitate access to the European market for our farmers and small industries, create new opportunities in manufacturing and services sectors," PM Modi said in his media statement. "This FTA will boost investment between India and the European Union, create new innovation partnerships and strengthen supply chains globally. This means it is not just a trade agreement. This is a new blueprint for shared prosperity," he said. The finalisation of the trade deal came 18 years after the two sides began negotiations on it. It may take at least six months to formally sign the deal as it will require legal scrubbing by both sides. Hailing the mega trade deal, European Commission President von der Leyen said the India-EU partnership will send a strong message that cooperation is the best answer to global challenges, in remarks that came amid growing strain in ties between Europe and the US. Accused stabs himself before cops overpower him State govt’s report admits to 23 deaths, including 16 due to contaminated water est litigations (PILs) filed in connection with the deaths allegedly caused by consumption of contaminated water in Bhagirathpura. The State government submitted a report stating that 23 deaths had been examined, of which 16 were attributed to contaminated water, four were described as inconclusive and three were said to be unrelated to water contamination. The court was also informed that water supply has been restored in Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Jilted lover enters woman’s house, stabs family, bro dies HC slams ‘eye-wash’ report; rejects ‘verbal autopsy’ term NEW DELHI PTI Ursula von der Leyen, referring to the defence partnership pact, said Europe and India have chosen to be reliable partners to one another. "We are not only making our economies stronger, we are also delivering security for our people in an increasingly insecure world. And today, the world's two largest economies and democracies launched their first-ever security and defence partnership," she said ADG training asks madrassa students to read Bhagavad Gita along with Quran 4Continued on | P8 Vedant Solanki woman's house located on Anjani Nagar main road around 8.50 pm. The accused has been identified as 24-yearold Vedant Solanki, a resident of the Aerodrome area. Police said that Vedant reached her place carrying a knife to attack his f r i e n d named Vidhi whom he was reportedly harassing for a Vidhan few days. Seeing the knife, Vidhi’s mother 46-year-old Anita Lakhawat pushed her daughter back and tried to stop the accused. During the struggle, Vedant stabbed Anita multiple times in the stomach. Hearing the commotion, Vidhi’s brother Vidhan (20) rushed there. The accused then stabbed him in the chest. 4Continued on | P8 Drizzle after temp rise, alert for rain, hail in 4 districts Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Bhopal experienced drizzling on Tuesday evening after temperatures rose due to clouds and dense fog. This was the first rainfall in the state during winter. Light rain was also reported in Khargone, Guna, Agar and Ujjain. Madhya Pradesh is under active weather influence from a Western Disturbance, bringing thunderstorms, lightning and possibility of hailstorms. Temperatures were affected by cloudy conditions, with a gradual dip expected later in the week. The state meteorological department issued an orange alert for thunderstorm, lightning, hailstorm and dense fog at isolated places in Gwalior, Bhind, Morena and Sheopur districts over the next 24 hours. Thunderstorm and lightning, along with dense fog, are likely at isolated places in Mandsaur, Neemuch, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Datia, Tikamgarh and Niwari districts. Moderate fog and thunderstorms may occur at Bhopal, Vidisha, Raisen, Rajgarh, Shajapur, Agar and CHILL CHART City Shivpuri Khajuraho Pachmarhi Anuppur Shahdol temp 7.0 7.4 8.6 9.0 9.6 Sagar, while Sehore, Ratlam and Ujjain may experience moderate fog. Thunderstorm and lightning are also expected at isolated places in Rewa, Satna, Panna, Damoh and Chhatarpur districts. Bhopal recorded a day temperature of 28.0 C, 2.0 C above normal, and a night temperature of 14.0 C, 2.6 C above normal. Indore recorded a day temperature of 28.3 C, 1 C above normal, and night temperature of 15.5 C, 4.5 C above normal.