Wednesday, July 16, 2025 | 28 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. 243 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) NATION Cong panel strategy meet on Monsoon Session decides to corner Govt on whereabouts of Pahalgam culprits PORSCHE CASE Accused to be tried as minor FPJ News Service PUNE GAMES Sourav Ganguly feels India missed a great opportunity to take a series lead against England MUTUAL RESPECT PITCH | Jaishankar tells the bloc including Pakistan & China to be uncompromising on founding objectives 4Contd on | nation SC gives protection to cartoonist FPJ News Service MUMBAI The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection to a cartoonist accused of sharing allegedly objectionable cartoons of PM Narendra Modi and RSS workers on social media. A bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar said that if he shared any further offensive posts, the state would be free to take appropriate action. It expressed displeasure over the alleged abusive content, remarking, "Log kisi ko bhi, kuch bhi keh dete hain" (People say anything to anyone). Hemant Malviya had approached the apex court challenging a Madhya Pradesh HC order dated July 3, which had refused to grant him anticipatory bail. He was booked by Lasudiya Police Station in Indore in May following a complaint by RSS worker Vinay Joshi, who alleged that Malviya had hurt the religious sentiments of Hindus and disturbed communal harmony by uploading objectionable material. The FIR cites 'objectionable' posts, including allegedly inappropriate comments on Lord Shiva, as well as cartoons, and comments about Modi, RSS workers, and others. TIANJIN (CHINA) Days after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh declined to endorse a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) declaration as it failed to flag terrorism, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar told the grouping that it needs to remain true to its founding objective of combating terrorism and extremism and take an “uncompromising” position on combating the challenges. He pointedly told his counterparts from Pakistan, China and other SCO nations that the Pahalgam attack was “deliberately conducted” to undermine the tourism economy of J&K and sow a religious divide, asserting that India will remain firm in its response to confront terrorism. He said India would continue to approach new ideas and proposals positively asserting that such cooperation must be based on “mutual respect”, “sovereign equality” and in accordance with “territorial integrity and sovereignty” of member states. His remarks came against the backdrop of Indian defence personnel pointing to a level of collusion between China and Pakistan during Operation Sindoor as well as growing global criticism of China's mega connectivity project – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – on the ground that it showed disregard for the sovereignty of the nations and lacked transparency. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation FPJ News Service MUMBAI With waves and smiles, Shubhanshu Shukla safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, marking the successful end of an 18-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His return not only signifies a major personal milestone but also holds promise for India's ambitious Gaga- nyaan mission, slated for 2027. A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying Shukla (affectionately called Shux), and three fellow astronauts parachuted into calm waters off the coast of California, at 2.31 AM Pacific Time (3.01 PM IST). The 22-hour descent concluded with a fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere — a phase during which the capsule endured external temperatures soaring to 1,927°C. The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while hearing a plea alleging harassment over feeding community dogs in Noida, asked the petitioner, “Why don’t you feed them in your own house?” A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the petitioner’s counsel, “We should leave every lane, every xternal Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday called on member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to provide greater development assistance to Afghanistan. Batting for Afghanistan, he posted on X, Highlighted that: Afghanistan has been long on the SCO agenda. The compulsions of regional stability are buttressed by our longstanding concern for the well-being of the Afghan people. The international community, particularly SCO members, must therefore step up with development assistance. India, for its part, will certainly do so.” “We are back home,” Axiom-4 mission commander Peggy Whitson messaged after the landing. The command control centre of Axiom Space replied: “Welcome home.” Shukla, an IAF Group Captain, is the second Indian to travel to space, following Rakesh Sharma's 1984 feat. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation TDP signals rift with BJP on SIR FPJ News Service AMARAVATI In a move seen as a divergence from the BJP’s stance, its NDA ally, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), has called on the Election Commission (EC) to initiate a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls at the earliest, with advance notifications to prevent hasty deletions or errors. The TDP said the exercise should focus solely on correcting and updating voter rolls, advocating for the deployment of mobile Booth Level Officer (BLO) units in areas with high seasonal migration, stage-wise verification, and deletion procedures with proper documentation and voter notifications. The party urged the EC to follow due process meticulously to enhance transparency in the electoral system. A TDP delegation met the EC and told its all three members that the purpose of SIR must be clearly defined and be limited to electoral roll correction and inclusion. Voters already enrolled in the latest roll should not be required to re-establish their eligibility unless specific and verifiable reasons are recorded, it asserted. The suggestions offered by the BJP's biggest ally mark a clear distinction from the Tesla drives into NIMISHA EXECUTION PUT OFF Mumbai through the import route Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI The execution of the Indian nurse Nimisha Priya which was scheduled for July 16 in Yemen has been postponed. Priya, who had been convicted for the death of her Yemeni business partner Talal Abdo Mehdi in 2017, had been handed the death sentence by a local court FPJ News Service MUMBAI Elon Musk's Tesla electric automobile made its grand entry into “amchi Mumbai” on a rain-soaked Tuesday. The US major's swank “Experience Centre” at BKC was opened by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis amidst fanfare. He delcared: Tesla's arrival would significantly strengthen Mumbai's electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. The CM noted that Tesla's move to open its “Experience Centre” marks the American EV giant's formal entry into the Indian market. He was particularly happy that the company had chosen to open its first showroom in Mumbai, “a symbol of innovation. It represents sustainability. Tesla is not just a car company Cong’s Trump jab at PM: ‘65 days. 22 times’ Tesla is setting up four major charging stations in Mumbai, which will help build a massive charging infrastructure in the city in Yemen. However, government officials have disclosed that sustained efforts from various quarters, including the intervention of Kerala-based spiritual leader Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, who was said to be in touch with Yemeni religious authorities, had led to the postponement. road open for these largehearted people? There is all space for these animals, no space for humans. Why don’t you feed them in your own house? Nobody is stopping you.” The plea pertained to a March 2025 order of the Allahabad High Court.The petitioner, the counsel said, was subjected to harassment and unable to feed community dogs in accordance with the with the victim’s family,” a source said. Nimisha was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023.    The breakthrough is welcome as the government had acknowledged earlier that there was very little it could do to save the nurse from Kerala. -- it stands for design, innovation, and sustainability.” Fadnavis also said the company was also working on developing a robust ecosystem for delivery, logistics, and servicing in the region. “Tesla is setting up four major charging stations in Mumbai, which will help build a large-scale charging infrastructure in the city,” he added. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation GLOBAL PILOT BODY WARNS AGAINST CRASH GUESSWORK Dhairya Gajara MUMBAI 4Contd on | nation The proposed amphitheater should be used only as a sitting area for passengers, and not as a place of entertainment, the HC said High Court pauses BMC’s Kabutar Khana demolition Urvi Mahajani MUMBAI gestion—open a shelter in your own house. Feed every dog in the community in your own house.” The petitioner’s counsel claimed compliance with the rules and said that while the municipality was creating 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Urvi Mahajani mately 280 metres from the Gateway of India. The petitioners had contended that the project would “cause excessive and needless harm to the pristine environment” and objected to clearances granted by various authorities, including the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), the procedure guiding the SIR in Bihar and its timing, which has ignited a political storm as the Opposition has questioned its implementation close to the Assembly polls, expected in October-November, and the burden of proof on prospective voters in many cases. A TDP delegation, led by MP Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu and including state chief Palla Srinivas Rao, MP Shabari, MLA Kuna Ravi Kumar, Prasad Rao, and Tirunagari Jyotsna, met the EC in New Delhi to present a set of reform proposals aimed at strengthening electoral roll management and ensuring greater voter inclusion. Mumbai Traffic Police, the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), and the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai. The bench, however, noted that all statutory clearances were obtained and the project did not suffer from arbitrariness or irrationality. 4Contd on | nation MUMBAI The Bombay High Court on Tuesday upheld the decision of the Maharashtra government and the Maharashtra Maritime Board to construct a new passenger jetty and terminal facilities in the sea near the Gateway of India. “The pursuit of development is not an affront to the environment, when it walks the careful path of sustainability, guarded by regulations and reason,” the bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne said, dismissing three writ petitions filed by residents’ associations and individuals from the Colaba and Cuffe Parade areas. The petitions had raised environmental and heritage concerns over the proposed jetty near the Radio Club, approxi- A delegation told EC that the purpose of SIR must be clearly defined and be limited to electoral roll correction and inclusion. Voters already enrolled in the latest roll should not be required to re-establish their eligibility unless specific and verifiable reasons are recorded The global pilots’ body have said that the preliminary investigation report by the AAIB of the AI-171 crash raises many questions and does not provide answers. The Montreal-based International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) issued a statement on behalf of the global pilot fraternity raising concerns against hasty conclusions based on the preliminary report. It observed that any extrapolation of its content can only be regarded as guesswork, which will not be helpful to the good conduct of the investigation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary investigation report of Air India’s flight AI171, that crashed in Ahmedabad on June 12 killing 260 people, was received by the aviation industry with mixed reaction. While a few of the industry experts believe that the report has given a course of direction to the investigation, a lot of them are of the opinion that it showcases poor reporting and raises more questions than the answers it provides. Agencies NEW DELHI Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday took aim at PM Narendra Modi for not refuting US President Donald Trump's repeated claims of having defused tensions between India and Pakistan in May. In a post on X, Ramesh highlighted Trump's persistent remarks: “65 days. 22 times. The same claim. It keeps getting repeated.” The remarks refer to Trump’s repeated assertions that he played a key role in stopping the conflict between the two neighbours following Operation Sindoor, launched by India in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Animal Birth Control Rules. Rule 20 of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 deals with feeding of community animals and places the onus on resident welfare associations, apartment owners' associations, or local body representatives to make necessary arrangements for feeding community animals residing in the premises or area. The top court, however, remarked, “We give you a sug- “The Government of India, which has been extending all possible assistance since the beginning of the case, made concerted efforts in recent days to seek more time for Ms. Nimisha Priya’s family to reach a mutually agreeable resolution HC nod to jetty near Gateway Why don’t you feed stray dogs in your own house? MUMBAI Delhi focus: Afghanistan Earth welcomes Shux home SC question to petitioner FPJ News Service Edit Misplaced Jammu and Kashmir priorities INDIA TAKES AIM AT E TERRORISM IN SCO Agencies In a major development in the Pune Porsche crash case, the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) on Tuesday rejected the plea to try the 17-year-old accused as an adult. In the early hours of May 19, 2024, a Porsche allegedly driven by the minor mowed down two IT professionals, Anish Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta. The Pune Police had sought that the minor be tried as an adult, saying he committed a "heinous" act, as not only were two persons crushed to death, but there were also attempts to tamper with the evidence. However, the JJB rejected the police's plea. The lenient bail terms, including asking him to write a 300-word essay on road safety, had triggered a nationwide storm, following which he was sent to an observation home. However, on June 25, 2024, the Bombay HC directed that the boy be released immediately, saying the JJB's orders remanding him to an observation home were illegal and the law regarding juveniles must be implemented fully. Cinema Ram Gopal Varma on his upcoming film- Saaree! such feeding spaces in Greater Noida, no such effort had been made in Noida. He suggested that feeding points could be set up in areas not frequented by people. 4Contd on | nation In a temporary relief to animal lovers, the Bombay HC on Tuesday restrained the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from demolishing kabutar khanas (pigeon feeding areas) across Mumbai. It also directed that the Dean of KEM Hospital be added as a party to the petition and sought responses from both the BMC and the Animal Welfare Board . Court seeks replies from BMC, Animal Welfare Board in plea filed by city residents A division bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor passed the order while hearing a petition filed by three Mumbai-based animal lovers—Pallavi Patil, Sneha Visaria, and Savita Mahajan—who claimed that the BMC had launched a city-wide demolition drive of kabutar khanas since July 3 without any lawful authority. The petitioners, represented by advocates Harish Pandya and Dhruv Jain, alleged that the civic body’s actions were arbitrary, unlawful, and had resulted in the “mass starvation and extermination” of pigeons, violating provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 4Contd on | nation