FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLI No. 279 | INDORE | TUESDAY | MARCH 18, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in SHUBH GHADI CHE AAVI P.12 NAGPUR Violence in Nagpur Violence broke out in central Nagpur on Monday evening after rumors spread that a Quran was desecrated during a Bajrang Dal protest demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb. Clashes between protesters and police left two injured, prompting a heavy security deployment. The unrest began near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, where Bajrang Dal members gathered peacefully. However, social media soon exploded with claims that a Quran had been burned, sparking outrage in Muslim neighborhoods. Viral videos escalated tensions, drawing crowds into the streets by evening. iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY Sports Briefs ESTD-1983 PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Bhopal has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth Rs. 10.77 crore belonging to the then vice chancellor Sunil Kumar, the then registrar Rakesh Singh Rajput and the then finance controller Hrishikesh Verma of Rajiv Gandhi Praudyogiki University (RGPV), Kumar Mayank, Ramkumar Raghuvanshi, the then bank officials and other private persons involved in RGPV scam, the officials said on Monday. HC relief for Adani in Rs 388 crore violation case Cinema 'America can keep their silly Oscar' P.14 Modi flags pro-Khalistan CAG hits on Rs 23-cr scam activities in New Zealand 2021-22 REPORT | To rip victims off compensation, fake sanction orders were prepared in natural calamities aid Officials transfer money to accounts of their relatives and ineligible people Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A scam worth Rs 23.81 crore during the distribution of relief among victims of natural calamities in 13 districts has been revealed in CAG report 2021-22. The government employees transferred the money to the accounts of their relatives and ineligible people. To rip victims off the compensation, fake sanction orders were prepared. Instead of real beneficiaries, money was transferred to the accounts of ineligible people. Fake names were used in making e-payment. According to the report, the highest amount of money was ripped off in Seoni. In the district, the employees bungled Rs 11.79 crore in 59 accounts. The amount they bungled was 3.36 crore in Sheopur, Rs 3 crore in Shivpuri, Rs 1.17 Fake sanction order in Seoni The number of fake sanction orders used in Seoni was 291, CAG report said. The compensation, which was to be given to the family members of those who died because of snakebite, drowning and lightning, was actually transferred to the accounts of 59 ineligible people through fake sanction orders. CAG has recommended action against those who were involved in the scam. crore in Sehore and Rs 1.26 crore in Dewas. Similarly, a sum of Rs 42 lakh was filched in Chhatarpur, Rs 84 lakh in Raisen, Rs 69 lakh in Mandsaur, Rs 31 in Damoh, Rs 47 lakh in Vidisha, Rs 25 lakh in Agar Malwa, Rs 13 Lakh in Satna and Rs 12 lakh in Khandwa. The papers for sanction order, which were manually prepared, were scanned and uploaded to the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). The property has been seized under provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in relation to the case of embezzlement of funds of RGPV University. The ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Gandhi Nagar Police Station, Bhopal under various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act, against officials of RGPV University in relation to the case of embezzlement of funds of the university to the tune of Rs 19.48 crore. ED investigation revealed that officials of RGPV University and other persons have siphoned off funds of the university and was further utilised by them for personal benefits. Earlier, during the course of search and seizure action gold jewellery, mutual fund and bank balance to the tune of Rs 1.67 crore were also frozen. Rs 65cr loss in land allotment to Azim Premji Foundation CAG comes across Land worth irregularities in Rs 322 crore near Mantralaya and allotment of land Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Land allotment to Azim Premji Foundation in Bhopal has caused a loss of Rs 65 crore to the government exchequer. The loss came to light in a CAG report. According to CAG report, when land is allotted to any charitable organisation, 25% premium equal to the market value is fixed, and the yearly rent is charged twice the fixed rates. According to the norms of Inspector General of Registration, except for the lands near the bypass, or on the main streets or the ones in villages for which rates have been fixed separately in the guide- Our Staff Reporter collectorate encroached upon lines, the charges for other lands will be double. According to the collector guidelines, the market rate of land allotted to Azim Premji Foundation was Rs 109.26 crore. But according to the Patta documents, the cost of the land was executed at Rs 38.85 crore on the market rate. So, the organisation paid Rs 9.71 crore. Because the land is near the national highway, its rate was to be double the market price. But it was not done. This resulted in wrong calculation of the land price. 4Continued on | P8 The long-awaited underground metro project connecting Indore Airport to Rajwada has been cleared for execution. The Rs 2,191 crore contract will be jointly undertaken by Hindustan Construction Company Limited (HCC) and Tata Projects Limited (TPL). According to metro officials, the contract involves constructing an 8.65 km-long underground corridor, including tunnels and metro stations. In this joint venture, HCC holds a 55% stake. This is the only underground segment of Indore Metro Phase-1, which spans 31.32 km. This section will include 11.32 km of tunnels made 4Continued on | P8 Total Length: 31.32 km Elevated section: 22.62 km Underground section: 8.65 km using Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) and the construction of seven underground metro stations at Indore Railway Station, Rajwada, Chhota Ganpati, Bada Ganpati, Ramchandra Nagar, Kalani Nagar and the airport. The corridor will connect the ramp at Indore Rail- PTI China on Monday appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "positive" remarks on the Sino-Indian ties favouring dialogue over discord and said that a cooperative "dance between the elephant and dragon" contributing to mutual success is the only choice for both sides. "China appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's re- cent positive statements on China-India relations," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a media briefing here while responding to a question on the prime minister's remarks in conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman. The successful meeting be- Total number of Metro stations: 28 Elevated stations: 21 Underground stations: 7 way Station (East) to the ramp at airport station (west). 4Continued on | P8 HCC’s other Metro projects The HCC is also involved in Mumbai Metro Line III and Chennai Metro and has contributed significantly to Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Kolkata metro projects. Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) specializes in constructing dams, tunnels, bridges, power plants, expressways, marine works, irrigation systems and industrial buildings across India. China ‘appreciates’ Modi’s remarks on Sino-India ties Urvi Mahajani In a relief for Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani and managing director Rajesh Adani, the Bombay High Court on Monday discharged them in a case of alleged violations of market regulations amounting to nearly Rs388 crore observing that no case of cheating or criminal conspiracy was made out. In 2012, the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) initiated a case against Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL) and its promoters, Gautam Adani and Rajesh Adani. It filed a chargesheet accusing them of criminal conspiracy and cheating. Later, in 2019, Gautam Adani and Rajesh Adani approached the High Court, seeking to quash a sessions court order from the same year that refused to discharge them from the case. In December 2019, the High Court granted an interim stay until January 13, 2020, which was subsequently extended periodically. Indore Metro yellow line overview INDORE BEIJING MUMBAI E-paper Edit Language row intensifie P.6 Markets bounce back as undercurrent remains stable ED attaches Rs 10.77cr HCC, TPL bag Airport-Rajwada property in RGPV scam underground Metro contract Belongs to ex-VC, Registrar, Finance Controller, bank officials MUMBAI tween President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Modi in Kazan, Russia, last October provided strategic guidance for the improvement and development of the bilateral ties, she said. "Both sides have earnestly followed through on the important common understandings of our leaders, strengthened exchanges and practical cooperation at all levels, and achieved a series of positive outcomes," she said. 4Continued on | P8 PTI NEW DELHI India and New Zealand on Monday inked an ambitious pact to institutionalise defence ties and vowed to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns to his Kiwi counterpart Christopher Luxon over certain pro-Khalistani elements indulging in anti-India activities in the island nation. Following talks between Modi and Luxon, the two sides signed six agreements to ramp up cooperation in several areas including education, sports, agriculture and climate change, and decided to prepare a roadmap for cooperation in the defence industry sector. Both prime ministers welcomed the launch of negotiations for a "balanced, PTI The heart of India beats for football in Vicharpur, a small village in Madhya Pradesh, now celebrated as ‘Mini Brazil.’ Its passion for the beautiful game has once again captured national attention after Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged its football legacy during a conversation with American podcaster Lex Fridman. Vicharpur, a village once troubled by social issues, has scripted an extraordinary transformation. The unwavering passion for football, nurtured by coach Raees Ahmed, has turned the village into a breeding ground for national-level players. PM Modi, who met players from Vicharpur during his visit to MP in early 2023, had previously mentioned this football revolution in his 'Mann Ki Baat' program. In his latest podcast, he lauded the dedication of Ahmed and his trainees, emphasising how football has given the village a new identity. Man Behind the Revolution Raees Ahmed, a former national-level player, started coaching in 2002. His vision was simple yet powerful: to channel the raw energy of Vicharpur’s youth into disciplined football training. “I started with a boys’ team, then added a girls’ team. Soon, it became a norm—almost every household had a football player,” said Ahmed. The result? Vichar- Modi said India and New Zealand support a free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, adding "We believe in the policy of development, not expansionism", remarks that came amid growing global concerns over China's expansionist behaviour in the region. 4Continued on | P8 Amritsar blast suspect killed in exchange of fire with cops Rajesh Moudgil NEW DELHI CHANDIGARH Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday conveyed to US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard India's concerns over activities of Khalistani separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on American soil and urged her to declare it as a designated terrorist entity, sources said. In an over 30-minute meeting at his office in the Raisina Hills, Singh also apprised Gabbard about SFJ's alleged links with Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as well as its "collaboration" with Babbar Khalsa militant group, and pressed for action against it, they said. Singh flagged concerns over the SFJ, headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, targeting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi. various Hindu religious structures in the US and said such activities must be stopped, the sources said. The SFJ is a banned organisation in India. Pannun is wanted by Indian probe agencies on various terror charges. 4Continued on | P8 'Islamist terrorism' remark on Bangladesh crisis US Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard spoke at length about the political turmoil and turbulence in Bangladesh and stated that the United States was deeply concerned about persistent persecution of religious minorities in the country including Hindus, Buddhists, Christians and others. The US national intelligence chief was critical of the crumbling situation in Bangladesh and highlighted the Trump administration's firm resolve in tackling the extremist forces and 'Islamist terrorism' One of the two accused in the Amritsar temple grenade attack was shot dead by Punjab police in a gunfight which broke out when the duo allegedly tried to flee Amritsar’s Rajasansi area on a motorcycle Monday morning. Stating that the deceased accused was identified as Gursidak Singh, police said that the encounter broke out when the police, which had set up a check naka tried to stop the accused. The accused opened fire. However, one of them was grievously hit in the police’s retaliatory firing. Amritsar commissioner of police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the police had received a tip-off early Monday morning that accused were spotted in Rajasansi area following which, special teams were set up at “nakas’.’ However, on finding the police “naka’’ on the road, the two abandoned their motorcycle and fired at the police personnel. Head constable Gurpreet Singh was hit in the arm while a bullet grazed inspector Amolak Singh’s turban. India’s Hyperloop to become world's longest PTI CHENNAI The ambitious Hyperloop project under development at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras will feature the longest Hyperloop tube in Asia, measuring 410 meters, and is set to become the world's longest soon, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Sunday. The Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Information Technology, who was on a short visit to the city, inspected the Hyperloop project at IIT Mad- Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspects a hyperloop tube. ras on March 15. He stated that the electronics component technol- Vicharpur’s football dream in PM spotlight PTI ambitious, comprehensive, and mutually beneficial" free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries to achieve deeper economic integration. Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs Jaideep Mazumdar indicated that the two countries will try to seal the FTA by the end of this year. In his media statement, INDIA ASKS US TO ACT AGAINST SFJ Mini Brazil of India SHAHDOL Prime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in New Delhi. Agencies pur earned its nickname 'Mini Brazil', thanks to its unrelenting love for the sport. Rising Stars of Vicharpur The village’s impact on Indian football is undeniable. Stars like Lakshmi Sahis, who has participated in nine national tournaments, and her siblings Sitaram Sahis and Dhanvantari Sahis, have brought laurels to the village. Other national-level players include Anil Singh Gaur, Om Pra- kash Kol, Rakesh Kol, Naresh Kunde, Hanuman Singh, Mukesh Kol, and Shankar Dahiya, among others. Their success is a testament to the village’s ever-growing football culture. The real turning point came in 2021, when the then divisional commissioner of Shahdol, Rajiv Sharma, spearheaded a football revolution. From 2021 to 2023, an astounding 85 football competitions were organized across panchayat, district, state, and national levels. ogy for the Hyperloop project would be developed at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. "Longest Hyperloop tube in Asia (410 meters)... soon to be the world's longest @iitmadras," Vaishnaw said in a social media post on Sunday, sharing a video of his visit to the IIT Madras campus. Hyperloop is considered the fifth mode of transportation-a high-speed train that travels in a near-vacuum tube. The reduced air resistance allows the capsule inside the tube to reach speeds of over 1,000 km per hour. 4Continued on | P8 T’gana struggles to pay salaries to staff PTI HYDERABAD Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has said his government faces a cash crunch due to the debt burden and others and that it has paid salaries to employees after obtaining a "hand loan" of Rs 4,000 crore from the RBI. Speaking in the Legislative Council recently, he urged the government employees to cooperate with regard to payment of Dearness Allowance (DA) and others in view of the difficult cash situation though salaries would be paid on the first of every month. "It becomes difficult to pay salaries on the first of every month. I appeal to our government employees from here....to serve the government, taking salaries on the first of every month. Sometimes, (we have to take a) hand loan from Reserve Bank... I paid salaries on the first by taking a hand loan of Rs 4,000 crore," he said. 4Continued on | P8