FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. XLII No. 90 | INDORE | SUNDAY | SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 4 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. 38281/83 www.freepressjournal.in Sports Sinner stays supreme, sets NY showdown... P.15 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: INDORE WORLD UJJAIN PUNE BHOPAL NASHIK MUMBAI E-paper Nation Sengottaiyan removed from... Canada’s big ‘admission’ Cinema Nimrit thanks mentor P.14 RAJA RAGHUVANSHI MURDER CASE| Sonam, lover Raj & 3 others named in 790-page chargesheet RAJA KILLED IN FRONT OF SONAM Our Staff Reporter The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Meghalaya Police has filed a 790-page charge-sheet in the honeymoon murder case of city businessman Raja Raghuvanshi. The charge-sheet was submitted in the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class, Sohra Sub-Division, Shillong, on Friday evening. According to the chargesheet, Raja’s wife Sonam Raghuvanshi and her lover Raj Kushwaha masterminded the conspiracy, while Raj’s friends Akash Rajput, Anand Kurmi and Vishal Singh Chauhan executed the killing. All five are in judicial custody and face charges of murder, conspiracy and destruction of evidence. Police confirmed that a sup- FEB 11: Roka of Raja and Sonam. MAY 11: Marriage in Indore. MAY 16: Murder conspiracy hatched by Sonam, lover Raj Singh Kushwaha & aides. MAY 20: Couple leaves for honeymoon, visits Kamakhya Temple via Bengaluru. MAY 21: Arrive in Shillong MAY 22: Overnight stay at Nongriat, Sohra. MAY 23: Raja killed with IANS NEW DELHI As the heat over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls gathers pace after the controversial drive conducted in the poll-bound state of Bihar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is considering conducting SIR across the country. According to the sources, the ECI has called a meeting of all the state Chief Electoral Officers (CEO) in Delhi on September 10 and will have a discussion at length on this matter. The meeting will be attended by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, election commissioners and other senior poll body officers. It is pertinent to note here that the SIR drive conducted in Bihar had become a political battle in Bihar, with opposition parties, including RJD, Congress, CPI, CPM, TMC, SP, among others, criticised the poll panel for work- fp Briefs GANDHINAGAR Cargo ropeway snaps: 6 dead At least six persons were killed and four others injured after a ropeway trolley carrying construction materials for renovation work at Pavagadh temple in Gujarat’s Panchmahal district snapped mid-air on Saturday, officials said. LUCKNOW Amity student slapped brutally Five law students of Amity University’s Lucknow campus were booked after an FIR was lodged for brutally assaulting and abusing one of their classmates inside a vehicle in the campus parking area. executed by Akash Singh Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan and Anand Kurmi in Sonam’s presence. Within a week of the probe, police arrested the accused from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. Substantial evidence and enclosures were also filed along with the charge-sheet. The accused have been booked under Sections 103(1), 238(a) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Later, three more accused Lokendra Tomar, Balla Ahirwar and Shilom James, who are currently on bail, were arrested from Gwalior, Shadora and Dewas respectively, for destroying evidence. A supplementary chargesheet will be filed once additional forensic reports are received. Exam stress: Cl VI student jumps off school’s 1st floor, survives O ing against the mandate of the commission by deleting a large number of voters, mainly from the downtrodden spectrum. Similarly, as polls are due next year in the states- West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, the poll panel, according to the reports, is likely to conduct the SIR in the whole country, which is likely to reignite a political battle between the ruling and the opposition parties. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tamil Nadu's CM Stalin have expressed their opposition to the SIR drive, while BJP-ruled states have supported the poll panel. It may be noted here that CEC last month, in his maiden press conference, dismissed allegations of bias against the poll panel in the SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar, stressing that “some are trying to fool the voters” by spreading confusion and questioning the credibility of both the poll body and the electorate. Without naming any party, the CEC indirectly responded to the Opposition's claims that the ECI was colluding with the ruling BJP. JUNE 4: Body brought to Indore, last rites performed. JUNE 9: Sonam traced in Ghazipur, arrested with co-accused. VIPIN RAGHUVANSHI, Raja’s elder brother Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Panic gripped Carmel Convent School in Govindpura on Saturday morning after a Class 6 student jumped off the first floor of the school building, reportedly due to examination stress. The incident occurred around 7:30 am, shortly before the scheduled computer examination. CCTV footage from the school shows the girl leaping on her own. Teachers rushed to help and immediately shifted her to a private hospital in Piplani. Doctors said that her condition is now stable and she is out of danger. Chaos prevailed on campus after the incident, with students PTI A Noida resident has been arrested for allegedly sending a hoax threat message to the Mumbai Police, claiming that 14 terrorists had entered the city with explosives, to frame a man who had filed a case against him and seek revenge, officials said on Saturday. The accused, Ashwani Kumar (51), a native of Patna in Bihar, was living in a housing society in Noida's Sector 79 for the past five years. 4Continued on | P8 She sustained fractures in her hand and leg, along with a back injury panicking and teachers trying to calm them. The school informed Govindpura police, who arrived soon after and launched an investigation. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Aditi Saxena said the girl, during preliminary questioning, admitted to being under severe stress due to the computer examination. She had also faced performance-related issues in previous classes, which may have worsened her anxiety. Family members said the girl is the youngest of five sisters. Her father works in an industrial unit in Govindpura, and her mother is currently in Chennai. Two of her elder sisters are pursuing law degrees, while the other two are studying in Classes 8 and 11. In a statement, the school management said they will implement additional measures to prioritise student safety and mental well-being. IANS NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held a phone conversation with Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, exchanging views on recent efforts towards bringing an end to the conflict in Ukraine while reiterating India’s consistent support for peaceful resolution of the issue and early restoration of peace and stability in the entire region. The two leaders had spoken over phone on August 21, coordinating their positions on war in Ukraine for just and lasting peace. "Had a very good conversation with President Macron,” posted PM Modi. PTI NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday "fully reciprocated" US President Donald Trump's "positive assessment" of the India-US partnership and his appreciation of the "special" relationship between the two nations, signalling an intent by both the sides to check the downturn in their ties. Modi's comments on social media came hours after Trump said at a news confer- ence in White House that he will always be "friends with Modi" but added without elaborating that he didn't like what the Indian leader was doing at this "particular moment". "Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump's sentiments and positive assessment of our ties," Modi said. "India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," he noted on X. It was the first exchange of views between the two leaders after they held a phone conversation on June 17. Earlier, responding to a question on the possibility of the US resetting relations with India, Trump said both countries have a special relationship and there is "nothing to worry T P about". "I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great prime minister, he's great. I'll always be friends but I just don't like what he's doing at this particular moment," he said. "But India and the United States have a special relationship. There is nothing to worry about," the US president said. Asked about his social media post on Thursday suggesting that the US was losing India to China, Trump said: "I don't think we have. I have been very disappointed that India would be buying so much oil...from Russia." 4Continued on | P8 Online Report MUMBAI Anant Chaturdashi procession Indoreans turned up in large numbers as city bid farewell to Lord Ganesha with traditional Anant Chaturdashi procession. Crowds packed Rajwada and nearby markets, creating a sea of devotees after 10 days of Ganeshotsav on Saturday UK team inspects Tihar as India seeks return of NiMo ANI NEW DELHI A team from Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recently inspected Tihar Jail in the national capital, according to prison sources. This is part of the Indian legal system's efforts to bring fugitives back to India, The primary objective of the government was to intensify efforts to bring back fugitives like Nirav Modi to India. The government is also looking to prove that the accused who would be extradited to India will get a safe environment in Tihar jail. In the past the British courts had rejected India's extradition petitions in some cases citing Jail conditions. For this reason, the Indian government has also given a guarantee to Britain that no accused will be illegally interrogated in jail. According to the information, the CPS team visited the high-security ward of Tihar and spoke with the prisoners there. The officials assured them that if needed, a special "enclave" will be built in the jail premises, where high-profile accused can stay safe. So far, 178 extradition requests of India are pending abroad, out of which about 20 are stuck in Britain alone. These include the names of arms dealers and operatives with Khalistani links. Earlier this year in July, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had stated that the Indian government is continuing to "make the case" for the extradition of fugitives from the United Kingdom (UK) as part of their ongoing efforts to secure the return of these individuals wanted for legal proceedings in India. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya, who is currently living in London, is the subject of extradition efforts for alleged loan defaults. 4Continued on | P8 Five-hour-long celestial spectacle tonight he last Chandra Grahan (lunar eclipse) of 2025 is set to grace the night sky on Sunday, September 7, and will be fully visible across India. This celestial event holds not only astronomical significance but also religious importance due to the associated Sutak Kaal, a rime Minister Narendra Modi will not be addressing the General Debate at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), as per the revised provisional list of speakers released for the high-level session later this month. The 80th session of the UNGA is set to open on September 9, marking a milestone year as the UN celebrates its 80th anniversary. According to the updated list of speakers, India will now be represented by a "minister" instead of the Prime Minister. IT expert among 12 arrested lunar eclipse FP Online PM TO SKIP UNGA MEET T’gana: `12,000 cr drug racket busted ‘Vastu expert’ held for Mumbai terror threat NOIDA Trump says Modi ‘great friend’, PM replies ‘likewise’ MODI, MACRON TALK UKRAINE dao, body dumped in gorge. JUNE 2: Body recovered near Weishengda waterfall. ur family wants death sentence for Sonam, Raj, and the three other accused. We have not yet seen the full charge-sheet, but we are satisfied with investigation and believe the charges are strong Now, SIR likely to be conducted across country ECI to hold key meeting with all CEOs on Sept 10 plementary charge-sheet would soon be filed against three more accused who were later arrested for destroying evidence. The press release from Meghalaya police said, “On May 21, Raja Raghuvanshi and his wife Sonam arrived in Shillong for their honeymoon and later went to Sohra. On May 26, the couple went missing. After an intensive search involving Sohra Police, Special Operation Team (SOT), NDRF, SDRF, trekking groups and local villagers, Raja’s body was found on June 2 in a gorge at Arliang Riat, Kudengrim, Umblai near Wei Sawdong.” The investigation established that Sonam was in a relationship with Raj and under the pretext of a honeymoon trip, the two conspired to murder Raja with the three assailants. The killing was TIMELINE INDORE P.7 period of spiritual observance in Hindu tradition. This eclipse is especially notable, as it will be the final lunar eclipse of the year and the last visible from India until March 2026, making it a rare viewing opportunity for skywatchers and spiritual observers alike. The total lunar eclipse of September 7-8, 2025, will be DATE & TIME IN INDIA Lunar Eclipse Begins: 9:58 PM Maximum Eclipse: 11:42 PM Total Eclipse Ends: 12:22 AM, September 8 Lunar Eclipse Ends: 1:26 AM, September 8 SUTAK KAAL TIMINGS Since the eclipse is visible in India, the Sutak period, a traditional time of religious caution, will be observed. Below are Sutak Kaal timings as per Drik Panchang: Sutak Begins: 12:19 PM, September 7 Sutak Ends: 1:26 AM, September 8 visible from almost every corner of India, as long as the skies remain clear. You don't need to be in a remote or high-altitude spot to witness it. Major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Pune, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad will all have a clear view of the Blood Moon. 4Continued on | P8 A huge drug manufacturing syndicate operating in Telangana was busted by the Mira Road Police of Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday, with the officials seizing MD (mephedrone) drugs worth Rs 12,000 crore. According to officials, about 35,000 liters of chemicals used in making drugs were also found during raids at the factory in Telangana's Cheramalli area. Investigation revealed that most of the drugs produced in the factory - which was running for several years - were supplied to Mumbai through local criminals and agents. The drugs were being manufactured secretly under the guise of a chemical factory. It is estimated that hundreds of kilos of the mephedrone drug has been manufactured and supplied in the market, officials said. Based on a tip-off, the MiraBhayander, Vasai-Virar police and the crime branch jointly conducted raids at over 60 locations after keeping a watch for nearly a month, officials added. Police have arrested 12 people in the case, including a Bangladeshi woman who was caught with drugs worth Rs 24 lakh last month in Maharashtra's Mira Road. She was identified as Fatima Murad Sheikh alias Mollah (23). The main accused in the case is an IT expert who misused his knowledge of chemicals for the crime. The case is also being investigated internationally due to the involvement of the foreign national, officials said.