Thursday, September 18, 2025 | Vol. 68 No. 297 | 32 Pages Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL INDIA EDITION | www.freepressjournal.in ● Leader in E-paper circulation DAY TO REMEMBER | Welfare schemes, tree plantings, social service drives, health camps galore mark the grand occasion Pakistan crushed by Op Sindoor: PM India marks Modi’s 75th birthday FPJ News Service MUMBAI FPJ News Service MUMBAI PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the armed forces for “bringing Pakistan to its knees in the blink of an eye” during Operation Sindoor, declaring that New India does not fear nuclear threats and “enters the enemy’s house to strike.” After laying the foundation stone of the Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel Park in MP’s Dhar, he said Pakistani terrorists had sought to “wipe the vermilion of our sisters and daughters.” He said Operation Sindoor had eliminated terror launch pads and neutralised those responsible. “Just yesterday, the world saw a Pakistani terrorist cry and confess how Indian forces destroyed their camps. This is the new India,” Modi said, alluding to a viral video of a Jaish-e-Mohammad commander admitting that Indian strikes devastated the family of terror mastermind Masood Azhar in Bahawalpur. Modi’s visit coincided with his 75th birthday, celebrated with a fortnight-long BJP ‘sewa pakhwada’ across the country. He launched campaigns, urging women to attend free health camps without hesitation. “The state treasury is not more important than your health,” the PM said, stressing the government’s mission to reduce maternal and infant mortality. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation PM Narendra Modi turned 75 on Wednesday and India marked the milestone with a wave of welfare schemes, tree plantations, health camps, and social service drives. From the Himalayas to the coasts, BJPled states and party organisations rolled out initiatives touching every aspect of public life – health, women’s empowerment, skill-building, environment, and tourism. In Maharashtra, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde’s government announced the creation of ‘Namo Parks’ in 394 municipal and town councils, backed by ₹1 crore in funding. Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai launched the Namo Skill Development Programme, training 7,500 youth for jobs in hospitality and as licensed tourist guides. To boost tourism, Namo information kiosks will soon dot Raigad, Pratapgad, Shivneri and Salher forts. 4Continued on | P19 Lodha kin held: `85 cr fraud Marg police station under BNS Sections 316(5), 318(3), 336(3), 338, 340(2), 351(3), and 61(2) following a complaint by Monil Gala, head liaisoner at Lodha Developers. The FIR alleged financial irregularities, illegal land sales, misuse of company position, and fraudulent transactions causing losses of over ₹85 crore to the company. Rajendra Lodha, associated with the firm since 1990 and a director since 2015, allegedly misused his position to authorize fake land deals and fraudulent agreements. He is accused of creating false MoUs, undervaluing prime properties, and diverting large sums of money for personal benefit. PYCROFT IN FACE-SAVING APOLOGY FOR PAKISTAN Colour tweak to EVM ballot papers soon Poonam Apraj MUMBAI In a sensational development on Wednesday, the property cell of the Mumbai police's crime branch arrested Rajendra Lodha, a relative of real estate tycoon and BJP minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, in connection with an alleged ₹85 crore fraud in Lodha Developers Pvt Ltd. Rajendra Lodha was produced before the Esplanade Court and remanded to police custody till September 23. This is the second time the Lodha group is being rocked by a controversy. A few years ago, the sons of Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Abhishek and Abhinandan, split. The case was registered on September 16 at NM Joshi Haridev Pushparaj 4Continued on | P19 FPJ News Service MUMBAI NEW DELHI The Pakistan Cricket Board ended hours of high suspense over whether Pakistan would stay in the Asia Cup tourney by issuing a statement that International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee Andy Pycroft had apologised to their team manager and captain for the no-handshake controversy in their Asia Cup game against India on September 14. The PCB also claimed that the ICC stood ready to conduct an inquiry into the code of conduct violation over the handshake that didn't happen. The PCB claimed in the statement that Pycroft had barred the captains of India and Pakistan from shaking hands during their match and stated that Pycroft termed the incident a result of “miscommunication” and offered apology. The statement paved way for Pakistan-UAE knock-out match which was delayed by an hour, apart from the two hours of high drama prior to the scheduled start that fol- lowed the rejection by ICC of a second complaint that Pakistan made via a letter to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to remove match referee Pycroft from their remaining matches. 4Contd on | nation 4See also | nation The Election Commission of India on Wednesday announced that it has revised the existing guidelines for the design and printing of EVM ballot papers to enhance their clarity and readability. The initiative, taken under Rule 49B of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, a release said, was in line with the 28 initiatives already taken by the Commission in the past six months to streamline and improve election processes and enhance convenience for voters across the country. 4Contd on | nation offgrid Filmy style bank heist of `21 cr in K’taka Vinay Madhava Gowda BENGLURU In a filmy style heist, three armed robbers, brandishing country made pistols, looted State Bank of India branch at Chadachana in Vijayapura district of Karnataka and made away with gold and cash all worth over Rs 21 crore. Later it was determined that it was a five member gang and two of the gang members had been waiting outside the bank while three carried out the heist. The gang had come in a car and two bikes, it is said. The police tracked the trail left by the gang to Hulijanthi village in Mangala Kheda taluk, Maharashtra, where the robbers dumped their car and escaped in different directions on motorcycles. Before scattering, they met with a minor accident near Hulijanthi village, and with a pistol threatened a couple of youths who questioned them. In their hurry to get away, the robbers left behind a few packets of gold inside the getaway car. 4Contd on | nation Stubble burning: SC to get tough BR Gavai, sitting with Justice K Vinod Chandran, observed that while farmers are important to the country, it does not mean that they can continue unchecked with practices that harm the environment. “If some people are behind bars, it will send the correct message. Not as a routine but to send a message,” the CJI remarked. The Court was hearing suo motu proceedings related to the failure of NCR states to comply with directives to complete recruitment to their Pollution Control Boards and Committees. ‘Submit in 3 weeks plan to curb pollution’ Tiger poaching comes under court scanner Apex court junks bail to Chhota Rajan FPJ News Service NEW DELHI The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that farmers who continue to violate stubble burning directives may face strict action, including arrest, to curb the rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Patna HC shoots down AI video of PM’s mother FPJ News Service PATNA PTI PTI FPJ News Service NEW DELHI NEW DELHI NEW DELHI The SC on Wednesday asked the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Central Pollution Control Board and state pollution control boards to come up with measures to curb air pollution within 3 weeks. A bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran asked UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab, along with CAQM and CPCB, to fill vacancies in their pollution control boards within three months. The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought responses from the Centre, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and others on a PIL seeking a CBI probe into an alleged organised tigerpoaching and illegal wildlifetrade racket operating in Maharashtra and MP. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran issued notice while hearing the plea filed by lawyer Gaurav Kumar Bansal. The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled the bail granted by the Bombay High Court to gangster Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje, better known as Chhota Rajan, in the 2001 murder case of Mumbai hotelier Jaya Shetty. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order after hearing the arguments of Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who appeared for the CBI. The Patna HC on Wednesday ordered the removal of an AI-generated video posted by the Bihar Congress, which showed PM Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi. It directed social media platforms to stop their circulation in light of SC rulings in different cases which recognised privacy and dignity as fundamental rights. “To avoid further damages, if any, respondents are directed not to circulate the subject video clipping from here afterwards until further orders to be passed by this court,” a bench of Acting Chief Justice PB Bajanthri and Justice Alok Kumar Sinha said. The respondents are Meta Platforms, Google India (YouTube) and X (Twitter) India. Live Law reports that the bench passed the order while hearing a PIL filed by Vivekanand Singh. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation