FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 65 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | AUGUST 22, 2025 | Pages 14 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 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: BHOPAL UJJAIN MONEY PRESS PUNE INDORE 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 assite 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, E-paper Edit A law to cr ush the Opposition P.6 Sebi to raise tenure, maturity for equity derivatives: Pandey Cinema Pune court summons... P.14 Defence lawyer also an accused, POCSO victim tells court FIR for organised crime, human trafficking racket   MUMBAI DRUGS AND FIREARMS SYNDICATE 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.  3-DAY RUSSIA VISIT | Jaishankar meets Putin, Lavrov 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. JAISALMER Dinosaur-era fossils found Fossil-like remains, including a large bone-shaped structure and petrified wood, have been discovered during the excavation of a pond near a village in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district, raising the possibility of the site being linked to the prehistoric dinosaur era. These unusual stone formations, resembling a large skeletal structure, were found in Megha village by locals while digging near the pond. Perplexed at logic: EAM on US tariff over Russian oil Mansion of Machhli BMC demolishes illegal hideouts of drug peddler Yasin Ahmed alias Machli Shahwar Ahmed, near Hatai Kheda dam locality, in Bhopal on Thursday ‘India, China are Asia’s double engines’ PTI NEW DELHI India is neither the biggest purchaser of Russian oil nor it has the biggest trade surge with Moscow after 2022, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Thursday, in what appears to be the first clear response by a top government functionary following the US slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods for buying Russian oil. Jaishankar made the remarks in response to a question at a joint media briefing with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "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," he said. "We are not the country which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022. I think there are some countries to the south," he added. 4Continued on | P8 Agencies NEW DELHI 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. PTI GUWAHATI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced that people above 18 years of age will not get first-time Aadhaar cards in the state as a precautionary measure to check illegal immigrants from getting Indian citizenship. Only a one-month window from September 1 will be given to them to apply for an Aadhaar card if anyone has not got the document yet, he told reporters after a Cabinet meeting here. First-time Aadhaar cards will no longer be issued to individuals above 18 years of age from October onwards, barring a section of people. Tea Tribes, SC and ST people above 18 years of age will continue to receive Aadhaar cards for the next one year, Sarma clarified. 4Continued on | P8 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 FP Online 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, 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 belong- NEW YORK a member of the board tried to place the cap on his head, he stopped him and took the cap in his hand. Later, Bihar's Minority Minister Zama Khan approached Kumar and at- 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 tempted to put the cap on him. In response, Kumar held Khan's hand and made him wear the cap instead. 4Continued on | P8 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 PTI PATNA STANDOFF SPORT | No bilateral sports with Pak, only multilateral play allowed 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 Online Report NEW DELHI Nitish refuses to wear ‘topi’ INDIA DRAWS THE LINE IANS 4Continued on | P8 Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Illegal assets bulldozed so far » Farmhouse of Shakeel Ahmed, son of Sharif Ahmed, on Khasra No. 55 (government land) » 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse of Shariq Ahmed, son of Sharif Ahmed » Illegal farm of Shakeel Ahmed » Factory set up by Irshad Ahmed, son of Sarfaraz Mohammad Khan » Unauthorised madrasa by Ata-ul-Rehman, son of Mufti Rais Ahmed Khan » Goat and poultry farm on 5 acres owned by Shariq Ahmed, alias Shariq Machhli » Three-storey mansion of Shariq Ahmed, alias Machhli, and his brothers Sohel Ahmed and Shafiq Ahmed, sons of Sharif Ahmed, demolished on Thursday ings 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. Officials said the mansion, constructed in 1990, was worth an estimated Rs 20 to 22 crore. It had over 30 rooms across three floors, along with a garage, park and play area, all built illegally on government land. SDM Sonkiya said the property was the last remaining structure from the earlier antiencroachment drive, which could not be razed on July 30 due to lack of heavy machinery. A proper notice was issued to the occupants before action. The matter was also heard by Nagar Nigam and in Tehsildar court, he said. PRESIDENTIAL REFERENCE HEARING No first-time Aadhaar for Trump claim busted: US embassy people above 18 in Assam denies $21 mn for voter turnout ‘Judicial activism Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday refused to wear a cap offered to him during an event organised by the Bihar State Madrasa Education Board. The incident occurred when Nitish Kumar was presented with a cap typically worn by Muslims. A video of the incident has surfaced and is going viral on social media. The video shows that when 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 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 of unity and cooperation between the two neighbouring powers, stating, "For two neighbouring countries of such size, unity and brothers razed 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 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 shouldn’t become judicial terrorism’ PTI NEW DELHI Judicial activism should not become judicial terrorism, Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said on Thursday during the presidential reference hearing which raised constitutional questions on whether the court can impose timelines for governors and the president to deal with bills passed by state assemblies. The chief justice's remark came when Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench that elected people who have a lot of experience should never be undermined. "We never said anything about the elected people. I have always said that judicial activism should never become judicial terrorism or judicial adventurism," the CJI told Mehta. The bench also comprised Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar. Mehta resumed his submissions by referring to various verdicts of the apex court on powers of the governor as the hearing entered its third consecutive day. 4Continued on | P8 Political solution over rushing to SC: Centre The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that a "political solution" should be prioritised by the states over "rushing to the top court" when a Governor delays assent to Bills passed by the legislative Assembly. During the hearing on the Presidential reference, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union government, argued that not every problem needs to be resolved by the Supreme Court." offgrid ‘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