FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. XLII No. 71 | INDORE | FRIDAY | AUGUST 22, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports Mohsin sets Dal Lake ablaze with dream gold at KIWS Fest 2025 P.12 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE UJJAIN MONEY PRESS PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL While the POCSO court here was hearing the case of a minor’s abduction and being forced into flesh trade, the victim on Thursday identified a defence lawyer fp as one of the accused. She even disclosed the locations of the lawyer’s offices as the site of her alleged rape in 2024.   The victim mentioned the name of the defence lawyer during examination-in-chief or direct examination, court sources said, adding that there are many accused in the case of Ashutosh Vajpayee and others versus the State.  The next court proceeding is on September 1, they said.  The victim even disclosed the locations of the lawyer’s offices as site of her alleged rape in 2024 Earlier this year, an FIR was lodged at the Ashoka Garden police station over the abduction of the minor, her forceful in- volvement in the flesh trade, and her alleged sale to a man in the area. The police identified 26 people as involved in the racket, of whom 18, including the alleged kingpin, Vajpayee, and his wife, Mahak Yadav, were arrested on January 26. Later, investigations revealed that the accused were running an organised flesh trade and human trafficking racket, following which, Cinema Pune court summons... P.14 an FIR for organised crime was also registered against them.  The accused are Mahak Yadav, Ashutosh Vajpayee, Suleman Qureshi, Rakesh Dhakar, Yogesh Kumar, Surendra Singh, Puja Thakur alias Dimpal Khan, Kuldeep alias Kunal Khan, Naved Khan, Anjali Mahole, Nishant Mahole, Maqbool Ali, Nidhi Thakur Agarwal, Mithilesh Satnami, and Ritul Pandey.  COMING CLOSER | Jaishankar lauds Moscow ties as ‘steadiest’ Briefs NEW DELHI Macron dials PM Modi French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday dialled Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed ongoing efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Macron was among the European leaders who accompanied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his talks with US President Donald Trump this week. The French president has also been playing a key role in Europe's efforts to ensure security of Ukraine in case of a deal with Russia to end the war. NEW DELHI Stray dog verdict today A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court is set to deliver its verdict in the suo motu case titled 'In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price', amid ongoing debate over its earlier directions on relocating stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region. As per the causelist published on the website of the apex court, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria, which reserved its decision last week on relocating stray animals in Delhi and adjoining areas, will deliver its order on August 22. GUWAHATI Aadhaar war against aliens In a move that is bound to spark debate, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced that no first-time Aadhaar cards will be issued to individuals above 18 years of age in the state from October onwards. The step, he said, was a precautionary measure to prevent illegal immigrants from securing Indian citizenship documents through Aadhaar enrolment. Perplexed at logic: EAM on US tariff over Russian oil Putin wants Donbas, no NATO, no western troops in Ukraine Ashwin Ahmad NEW DELHI External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said India was not the biggest importer of Russian oil and admitted that he was "perplexed" by the higher tariff imposed by Washington even though New Delhi's purchase of oil from the US had increased. He emphasised the need to increase bilateral trade in a “balanced and sustainable manner,” which included increasing Indian exports to Russia. Jaishankar, who is in Moscow on a three-day visit, made these remarks at a joint press briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov after their meeting on Thursday. He later called on President Putin. Calling upon Moscow to redress non-tariff barriers and other regulatory impediments, he said Indian goods and services had a ready market in Moscow. 4Continued on | P8 We are not the biggest purchaser of Russian oil. That is China. We are not the biggest purchaser of Russian LNG. I'm not sure, but I think that is the European Union S Jaishankar External Affairs Minister ‘Solid package’ of documents being prepared for PM Modi-Putin Summit Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday that he and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held detailed discussions regarding upcoming events, including the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India later this year, as both sides plan to prepare a "solid package" of documents for the PutinPM Modi summit. Mother slits infant’s throat, detained Earlier, she had tried to smother the 1.5-mnth-old, police said Our Staff Reporter INDORE In a shocking incident, a oneand-a-half-month-old boy was brutally killed by his own mother, who slit his throat in their house in the Ahirkhedi area under Dwarkapuri police station limits on Thursday. The blood-soaked body of the infant, identified as Priyansh Padri, was discovered in the afternoon. During autopsy examination, it came to light that the attack was so intense that it cut off his trachea (windpipe) and major arteries and nerves. At the time of the incident, the boy’s mother, Neha, his one-and-a-half-year-old sister, and his aunt were present in the house. Police said the child’s mother, who has been detained, had allegedly attempted to smother the boy earlier as well. After committing the crime, Neha ran to her sister-in-law, screaming that something had happened to the boy. When Last week, another woman had killed her infant Earlier, on August 15, just a week ago, a two-year-old girl was allegedly killed by her mother with a wooden stick under the Tejaji Nagar police station limits. Preliminary investigation suggests that the mother, whose mental condition is reportedly unstable, was distressed by the sound of her daughter’s constant crying. In a fit of extreme anger, she grabbed a wooden stick and struck the child on the head, killing her instantly. the sister-in-law rushed inside, she found Priyansh lying with his throat slit, soaked in a pool of blood. Police were informed and FSL officials also reached the spot to collect evidence. Dwarkapuri police station in-charge Sushil Patel said that during questioning, family members claimed that the boy's mother Neha’s mental condition is unstable and that she had tried to smother the boy around 15 days ago. 4Continued on | P8 INDIA DRAWS THE LINE STANDOFF SPORT | No bilateral sports with Pak, only multilateral play allowed IANS NEW DELHI India has officially tightened its sporting stance against Pakistan, drawing a clear line — no bilateral ties, only multilateral encounters. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on Thursday released a policy that will govern India’s engagement in international tournaments, including the high-profile Asia Cup 2025. The move follows the Pahalgam terror attack and the launch of Operation Sindoor, which reignited calls for tougher measures against Pakistan. “India’s approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” said the ministry in its statement. In so far as bilateral sports events in each other’s country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India.” Ministry release E-paper Edit A law to crush the Opposition P.6 Sebi to raise tenure, maturity for equity derivatives: Pandey Defence lawyer also an accused, POCSO victim tells court FIR for organised crime, human trafficking racket   MUMBAI MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin is demanding that Ukraine give up all of the eastern Donbas region, renounce ambitions to join NATO, remain neutral and keep Western troops out of the country, three sources familiar with top-level Kremlin thinking told Reuters. In his new proposal, the Russian president has stuck to his demand that Ukraine completely withdraw from the parts of the Donbas it still controls, according to the three sources. In return, though, Moscow would halt the current front lines in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, they added. 4Continued on | P8 SC: COURT’S HANDS TIED IF GUV SITS ON BILLS? FP News Service NEW DELHI The SC on Thursday questioned whether courts would rem a i n powerless if a Governor refuses to discharge constitutional duties and sits on bills passed by a legislature for years. A five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI BR Gavai, along with Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and Atul S Chandurkar, was hearing a Presidential reference made under Article 143. The reference seeks clarity on the court’s April ruling that prescribed timelines for the President and Governor to decide on bills, Bar & Bench and Live Law reported. Gavai asked if the court could stay silent in such a situation when judicial review is part of the Constitution’s basic structure. 4Continued on | P8 Online Report The US embassy has contradicted President Donald Trump's $21 million funding claim for voter turnout in India via USAID. According to the Parliament papers, the US Embassy shared data that covered USAID funding from 2014 to 2024. The US Embassy clarified that USAID did not receive or allocate $21 million for voter turnout efforts in India between 2014 and 2024, nor did it conduct any such activities. The Embassy further conveyed to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) that it plans to bring all USAID operations to a close by August 15 this year. The statement was issued in response to Trump’s public assertion that USAID funds, Admin takes possession of mill property worth Rs 1000 crore Our Staff Reporter INDORE In a bold and unprecedented move, the Indore district administration on Thursday took back possession of the highly valuable 22.24-acre Hope Textile Mill land, commonly known as Bhandari Mill, declaring it as government property. The land, estimated to be worth over Rs 1000 crore, was originally leased out in 1939 during the Holkar era to Nandlal and Bhandari Sons for setting up a textile mill. It was granted on a 99-year lease specifically for industrial use. However, with the mill now defunct for several years, the administration has acted on legal grounds to reclaim it. Collector Asheesh Singh issued an official order on Wednesday (August 20) to cancel the lease, stating that since the mill no longer operates, the Agencies NEW DELHI China's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, on Thursday emphasized the importance of strengthening strategic trust and cooperation between Beijing and New Delhi, highlighting that both countries are partners, not rivals, and should manage differences through dialogue. Xu Feihong said, "China and originally issued for humanitarian purposes, were “misused” by the Indian government to boost voter turnout. “$21 million going to my friend Prime Minister Modi in India for voter turnout. We are giving $21 million for voter turnout in India. What about us? I want voter turnout too," said Trump on one occasion. USAID ceased most of its operations globally on 1 July, terminating approximately 83 percent of its programmes and laying off 94 percent of its staff. Woman on FBI’s ‘Top 10 Most Wanted’ list arrested in India Dheeraj Kumar PTI PATNA NEW YORK With the Bihar assembly elections approaching, CM Nitish Kumar attempted an outreach to Muslims on Thursday by attending a function of madrasa teachers. Instead, he found himself in the middle of a controversy after allegedly refusing to wear a skull cap offered to him. A woman on the FBI's '10 Most Wanted Fugitive' list was arrested in India on charges of killing her six-year-old son, according to officials. The arrest of Cindy Rodriguez Singh, 40, was the fourth "Top 10 Most Wanted" capture in seven months, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 ‘Silence only emboldens the bully’ China's ambassador to India, Xu Feihong on Thursday said, "...US has imposed tariffs of up to 50% on India and even threatened for more. China firmly opposes it. Silence only emboldens the bully. China will firmly stand with India ." India should enhance strategic mutual trust, and avoid mutual suspicion. Both countries are partners, not rivals. We should manage differences through dialogue." He further underscored the significance Kash Patel said in an X post on Wednesday. He credited law enforcement partners in Texas, the US Justice Department, and authorities in India for their coordination leading to Singh's arrest, who was wanted on state charges of killing her son. She fled the US in 2023 to evade prosecution. 4Continued on | P8 offgrid of unity and cooperation between the two neighbouring powers, stating, "For two neighbouring countries of such size, unity and 4Continued on | P8 Machhli brothers’ mansion razed BMC demolishes mansion of drug peddler Yasin Ahmed alias Machli Shahwar Ahmed, near Hatai Kheda dam locality, in Bhopal Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Skull cap row haunts Nitish land no longer serves its intended industrial purpose. On Thursday, a team from the administration, led by tehsildar Kamlesh Kushwaha, arrived at the site and installed a board declaring the land as State Government property, thereby formally taking possession. Over the years, the mill had slipped into financial distress and was even transferred to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). Allegedly, attempts were made by the owners to sell off the land—despite the lease restrictions. A legal battle followed. In October 2012, then Collector Akash Tripathi had already declared the land as government-owned. However, Kantilal Bam, an executive director of the mill, challenged this decision in court. ‘India, China are Asia’s double engines’ Trump claim busted: US embassy denies $21 mn for voter turnout NEW DELHI Bhandari Mill land is now govt property Joint teams of district administration, Municipal Corporation and police on Thursday demolished a luxurious threestorey mansion belonging to the family of Yaseen and Shahwar Machhli, accused in a drug, firearm trafficking and rape-blackmailing case. The property in AnandpuraKokta area was built illegally on 15,000 sq. ft. of government land and was brought down using six JCBs and Poclain machines. The administration had earlier demolished other illegal constructions on encroached government lands linked to the Machhli family on July 30. Thursday’s demolition began around 11 am and continued till 4:30 pm, under the supervision of SDM Vinod Sonkiya and senior police officials, with heavy deployment of force from Bhopal police commissionerate and rural units. Furniture and belongings were removed from the house before the demolition. Police had previously arrested Shahwar Machhli and his nephew Yaseen for allegedly blackmailing and sexually exploiting college students. Following their arrest, a separate case was registered against Shahwar’s brother Shariq Machhli for issuing threats, rioting and assault. 4Continued on | P8 ‘Bharat aaj bhi Antariksh se saare jahaan se achha dikhta hai’ Agencies NEW DELHI Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Mission pilot aboard the recent Axiom-4 space mission, shared detailed insights about the experience and its significance for India's ambitions in human spaceflight, emphasising the invaluable knowledge gained from being in space itself. Speaking in a press conference, he underscored the pride and profound perspective gained by viewing Earth from orbit. He said, "Bharat aaj bhi Antariksh se saare jahaan se achha dikhta hai." He explained that the true benefit of executing a human space mission goes far beyond rigorous training referencing India's upcoming space endeavour Gaganyaan. "The benefit of executing a human space mission is more than the training. The supplementary knowledge we get just by being there is invaluable. All the information I have collected in the past year will be extremely useful to us for our own missions, Gaganyaan and Bharatiya Antariksh Station. Very soon we shall send someone from our capsule, from our rocket and our soil." He pointed out the unique challenges of space on the human body and said, "The experience is very dif- ferent from what you learn on the ground. The body goes through a lot of changes. The body forgets how to live in gravity after spending 20 days in space." On the technical side, he described the mission's launch aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket and highlighted his key role as mission pilot on the Crew Dragon spacecraft. 4Continued on | P8