FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 14 No. 336 | BHOPAL | TUESDAY | MAY 20, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Faizan Anwar clinches WBA Asia Middle-East title P.15 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY Stricter rules for companies with foreign ownership in offing SC REBUKES SHAH | SIT comprising of three IPS officers, including a woman officer, to file first status report on May 28 ‘NATION IN SHAME’ Despite SC heat, Shah won’t quit PTI NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Monday chided Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah for his "crass" remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi and constituted a three-member special investigation team to probe the FIR lodged against him. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, which rejected his apology, left to the minister to "redeem himself" for his utterances saying his apology was only an attempt to wriggle out of the legal consequences. "The entire nation was in shame due to the comments... We saw your videos, you were on the verge of using very filthy language but somehow better sense prevailed or you did not find suitable words. You should be shameful. Entire country is proud of our Army and you made this statement," Justice Kant said. Senior advocates Maninder Singh and Vibha Datta Makhija, representing the minister, submitted that he had genuinely expressed his regret and was willing to do so again. "What is that apology? Where is that apology tendered by you? Should we show you the video what kind of apology was tendered... There is some meaning of the word 'apology'. "Sometimes people use very docile language and they will say a very artificial kind of apology only to wriggle out of legal consequences and sometimes people shed crocodile tears also. So, in which category your case falls into. We would like to know," the bench told Singh. The bench said the minister has "ruthlessly hurt" the sentiment of people and added, "The kind of crass fp Briefs NEW DELHI Foodgrain output up 6.8% Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Monday that India's foodgrain production has increased by over 106 lakh tonnes to 1,663.91 lakh tonnes in 2024-25, which represents a 6.83 per cent increase over the corresponding figure of the previous year. NEW DELHI IndiGo Turkey pact may go The government is unlikely to extend the commercial airline IndiGo's leasing agreement with Turkish Airlines due to strained diplomatic relations following Turkey's open support for Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor launched by India to avenge the killings of 26 tourists. COURTSPEAK We saw your videos, you were on verge of using very filthy language but somehow better sense prevailed or you did not find suitable words What is that apology? Should we show you the video what kind of apology was tendered... There is some meaning of the word ‘apology’ We repeat that we are proud of our Armed Forces. They are on the frontline and the least we can do is act responsibly. If you insist that this is your genuine regret then it is outrightly rejected comments you made, completely thoughtlessly. You made the statement on May 12 and today is May 19. So, what prevented you from making a sincere attempt. We don't require this apology..." The bench did not allow senior advocates Indira Jaising and Vivek Tankha to make any submission on behalf of the intervenors, saying the court does not want to politicise the matter. 4Continued on | P8 Party will wait for SIT report till May 28 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Minister Vijay Shah is not going to resign, even after getting a dressing-down from the Supreme Court. The apex court has, however, stayed Shah’s arrest. The government will not seek his resignation because of the SC stay on his arrest. The court has asked the SIT to submit a status report by May 28. The BJP will mull over Shah’s case after the SIT submits its report to the apex court. Shah does not want to resign from the ministry after his controversial statement. He has often played tribal cards and emotional cards to avoid resigning from the cabinet. The party has decided not to seek resignation from him for the time being. After his statement on Colonel Sofia Qureshi, Shah is under constant pressure to resign from the cabinet. The Congress and social organisations have sought Shah’s resignation. 4Continued on | P8 NDA partner angry The statement of Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda and minister Vijay Shah has angered a partner of the NDA. Union minister from the Lok Jan Shakti Party, Chirag Paswan, said the army is on top of everything in this country. “We must bow down before the army,” Paswan said. Had any member of his party made such a statement, he would have shown him the door, Paswan said Dowry case registered against Cong MLA, kin Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL A case of harassment for dowry has been registered against former minister and Congress MLA from Kukshi Surendra Singh Baghel aka Honey Singh at Mahila Police Station on Monday on the complaint of the wife of his younger brother. The victim claimed that she was being harassed by the former minister and his family over demand of dowry. In her complaint, Kamya Singh Bag- Victim claims she was being harassed over demand of a luxury car and often insulted hel said she was married to Surendra Singh’s younger brother Devendra Singh in 2018 and they had twin daughters. She claimed that her husband Devendra, brother-inlaw Surendra Singh, his wife Shilpa Singh, mother-in-law Chandrakumari Singh and Two elephants crush 3 villagers to death Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Two elephants, moving from the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve towards the Sanjay Tiger Reserve, killed three villagers in the jungle area of the Shahdol district on Monday morning. The elephants belonged to a herd from Bandhavgarh and were not collared. The victims, two men and a tribal woman, were part of a large group of villagers plucking the ‘tendu patta’ inside the jungle. They have been identified as Umesh Kaul (43), Mohan Lal (85), and Dev Mania Baiga (60). Kaul and Baiga were from the Sanosi village, while Lal was a resident of the Barcha village. Their families will be given a compensation of Rs 8 lakh each. A committee has also been formed to capture the elephants and return them to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve. On being caught, they will be collared so that their movement can be monitored.  Speaking to Free Press, District Forest Officer, North Shahdol, Taruna Verma said, “People of around 25 villages were plucking ‘tendu patta’. 4Continued on | P8 sister-in-law Sheetal have been harassing her over demand of a luxury car as dowry. They often assaulted her over it. Incharge at Mahila Police station Anjana Dubey said that Kamya is a resident of Ratibadh area. She claimed that at the time of marriage she was informed that Devendra has completed MBA but she later learnt that he was a class eight dropout. Moreover, she was told that Devendra handles several businesses. However, Devendra is addicted to alcohol and is unable to work. Trump dials Putin in push for Ukraine ceasefire Online Report WASHINGTON DC/MOSCOW US President Donald Trump spoke with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over a phone call on Monday to discuss an agreeable solution to the war in Ukraine. The two leaders discussed ways to find a ceasefire amid intensifying demands for it across Europe. The war in Ukraine has been the deadliest conflict in the region since World War Two. The talks come nearly a week after President Trump said that a solution to the war can come only after he and Putin meet or talk directly. offgrid Viral: Man takes selfie with cheetah FP News Service SHEOPUR In a startling incident, a video of a young man taking a selfie with female cheetah Jwala has gone viral on social media. The incident was reported from Gadhi village in Vijaypur. The footage shows the young man approaching the Cheetah in a field, posing for a selfie without any appar- ent fear. This daring act sparked discussions among residents, who noted that while wild animals have been sighted in the area before, such close encounters with humans are unusual. The forest department previously issued warnings to villagers about maintaining a safe distance from wild animals and urged them to report any wildlife-related activities immediately. Experts caution that actions taken for social media fame can pose serious risks, not only to humans but also to wildlife. 4Continued on | P8 UJJAIN PUNE INDORE NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Edit MPs’ global tour draws scrutiny P.6 World Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer P.10 HC clears Sudhir Sharma in 4 Vyapam scam cases FIRs, chargesheets quashed Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL In a major relief to Sudhir Sharma, the Jabalpur bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday quashed four FIRs against him in the multi-crore Vyapam scam, citing lack of evidence. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vivek Jain dismissed FIRs and chargesheets filed by the CBI in four separate recruitment exam cases. CLEAN CHIT l Sub Inspector Recruitment Exam, 2012 l Police Constable Recruitment Exam, 2012 l Contract School Teacher Class 2 Exam, 2011 l Forest Guard Recruitment Exam, 2013 The FIRs were related to the Sub Inspector Recruitment Exam (2012), Police Constable Recruitment Exam (2012), Contract School Teacher Class 2 Exam (2011) and Forest Guard Recruitment Exam (2013). Sudhir Sharma was initially booked by the Special Task Force (STF) during the state-level investigation. 4Continued on | P8 METROPOLITAN PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT Metro Push: Indore, Bhopal to get own planning authorities Draft bill roll out before Cabinet today Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL The draft of Metropolitan Planning and Development Bill 2025 will be rolled out during the cabinet meeting to be held at Rajwada in Indore on Tuesday. The Bill has been prepared to develop Bhopal metropolitan region and Indore metropolitan region. Both metropolitan regions will focus on integrated development along with providing fillip to local economy through trade, industrialisation, investment etc. The Bhopal Metropolitan Region is of 96,400 square kilometres and includes areas of Bhopal, Sehore, Vidisha, Raisen and Rajgarh. The Indore Metropolitan region comprises areas of Indore, Ujjain, Dhar, Shajapur and Dewas. Its area is 9336 square kilometres. An officer of Urban Development and Housing Department said on condition of anonymity that on the line of other development authorities, Metropolitan Authority will be formed to regulate both Metropolitan Regions. Each region would have separate authority. The Metropolitan authority would have the responsibility of planning, power to acquire land as Rajwada decorated to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Rajwada decked up for special Cabinet meeting Our Staff Reporter INDORE In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the historic Rajwada in Indore will host a special cabinet meeting of the state government on Tuesday. The meeting is being held to commemorate the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar and aims to make the occasion an everlasting memory etched into the cultural fabric of the state. The grandeur of Rajwada — a symbol of Malwa's regal legacy — has been revitalized with a conper need, look after investment, increase transportation facility etc. It will also have committee to look after different tasks like infrastructure, fluence of traditional and modern decor showcasing the region's rich heritage. The venue has been meticulously prepared for the event blending light arrangements, floral installations and cultural motifs to reflect the glory of Ahilyabai Holkar's era. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the meeting, which will be held in Ganesh Hall, by garlanding the statue of Ahilyabai followed by a formal assembly of cabinet ministers on the palace’s ground floor. 4Continued on | P8 investment, employment, industrialisation, water supply, etc. 4Continued on | P8