FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms Vol. 15 No. 96 | BHOPAL | FRIDAY | SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | Pages 16 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 FREE www.freepressjournal.in Sports SACHIN 4TH AS NEERAJ FINISHES 8TH IN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS P.15 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL MONEY SC lifts 25-year-old ban on construction in Pachmarhi Our Staff Reporter The original ban was imposed in 2000. In March 2018, a Supreme Court-appointed committee recommended allowing G+3 construction BHOPAL fp Briefs NEW DELHI Single-login EPFO services Retirement fund body EPFO's over seven crore subscribers will now get all key services and access to their 'Employees' Provident Fund' account details using a single login on the members' portal, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. Talking to reporters, Mandaviya on Thursday highlighted key reforms undertaken by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) to ensure provision of efficient, transparent and user-friendly services to its members. area. The original ban was imposed in 2000. In March 2018, a Supreme Court-appointed committee recommended allowing G+3 construction. Solution to tariff issues with US likely in 8-10 weeks: CEA PTI KOLKATA Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran on Thursday said he expects that a solution to the tariff issues with the US is likely to arrive in the next eight to ten weeks. The additional 25 per cent tariff imposed by the US on Indian products for the country's purchases of Russian oil came into effect in August, bringing the total amount of levy imposed on New Delhi to 50 per cent. Speaking at an interactive session organised by Bharat Chamber of Commerce here, Nageswaran said, "Underneath the surface, conversations are going on between the two governments. My hunch is NEW DELHI Online Gaming Act from Oct 1 Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday said that the rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Games Act, 2025, will take effect on October 1. After the bill was passed by the Parliament, the government resumed talks with stakeholders, such as banks, gaming companies, and other organisations, the minister said. Vaishnaw said that the government had been in talks with industry stakeholders for almost three years. The act, which was notified on August 22, outlaws online real-money games. Tankha tweeted that the decision would bring relief to Pachmarhi residents. Lovekesh Sahu, office superintendent of the Cantonment Board, said the SC ruling resolves long-standing challenges faced by residents in small plots. he board had filed an intervention application in 2008 against restrictions imposed by the SC’s empowered committee, initially formed to monitor illegal constructions in national parks. Maoists murder missing youth in Balaghat They become active again put up banners and posters FP News Service ‘US may remove 25% tariff after Nov 30’ CEA V Anantha Nageswaran expressed optimism that the penal tariff imposed on certain imports will likely be withdrawn after November 30, signalling a potential easing of trade restrictions amid ongoing economic discussions that in the next eight to ten weeks, we will likely see a sol- 4Continued on | P8 4Continued on | P8 No US visa for Indian biz executives with drug trafficking links INDORE NASHIK SEBI gives Adani clean chit on Hindenburg allegations PTI US Charge d'affaires Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday cleared billionaire Gautam Adani and his group of stock manipulation allegations made by US short-seller Hindenburg Research, saying it found no evidence that the conglomerate used related parties to route funds into its listed companies. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) in two separate detailed orders said the allegations of insider trading, market manipulation, and violations of public shareholding norms were found to be unsubstantiated after a detailed investigation. Hindenburg, which has since shut down, in January 2023 published a damning report against the Adani Group, alleging Adicorp Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Milestone Tradelinks Pvt Ltd, and Rehvar Infrastructure Pvt Ltd were used as a conduit to route funds from various Adani Group companies to fund publicly listed Adani Power Ltd and Adani Enterprises Ltd. 4Continued on | P8 Indian photographer Prasenjeet Yadav's image of a black tiger from Odisha's Similipal National Park has featured on the cover of National Geographic magazine's upcoming October 2025 edition. The striking photograph, captured after months of patient tracking in the dense forests, showcases one of the world's rarest big cats. Known as pseudo-melanistic tigers, these black tigers are found only in Similipal, where almost half of the reserve's 30 tigers possess rare genetic mutation. "Being out in the forests of Similipal as a National Geographic photographer and Explorer has been a true privilege. I saw firsthand the Odisha Forest Department's dedicated, on-ground management and the commitment of its officers to safeguarding the future of these majestic tigers. "Photographing T12 was intense and humbling, with days and months of patience distilled into a single moment. Now to see that story on a National Geographic Magazine's international cover is an honour and a reminder of why we document India's extraordinary wild heart," Yadav said in a statement. National Geographic editor-in-chief Nathan Lump Ramping up his attack on the issue of vote theft, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of protecting those who "destroyed democracy". To buttress his allegation, he cited data from a Karnataka assembly constituency to claim that votes of Congress supporters were being systematically deleted. The Election Commission dubbed the allegations "incorrect and baseless" and said. "No deletion of any vote can be done online by any member of the public, as misconceived by Gandhi." Several BJP leaders, including Amit Shah, spoke out to slam Gandhi with Anurag Thakur saying he was trying to stoke chaos and create in India the kind of unrest seen in Nepal and Bangladesh. In his fresh offensive against the Election Commission, Gandhi, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, said the poll panel must stop protecting "vote chors" and provide within a week information sought by the Karnataka CID in an investigation into voter deletions. 2008 MALEGAON BLAST CASE PTI MUMBAI The Bombay High Court on Thursday issued notices to the seven persons acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, on an appeal filed by the family members of the victims. A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad also Forest guard caught taking Rs 3.5L bribe Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL/BALAGHAT issued notices to the prosecution -- National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra government -- and posted the appeal for hearing after six weeks. The HC was hearing an appeal filed by the family members of the six persons who lost their lives in the blast against the acquittal judgment. The appeal challenged a No deletion of vote can be done online: EC The Election Commission dubbed as incorrect and baseless the allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that CEC Gyanesh Kumar is protecting "vote chors". No deletion can take place without giving an opportunity to be heard to the affected person, the EC asserted. The EC pointed out that in 2023, "certain unsuccessful attempts" were made for the deletion of electors in the Aland Assembly constituency and an FIR was filed by the authority of the EC itself to investigate the matter If not, it will be known for sure that it is complicit in the "murder of the Constitution", Gandhi alleged at a press conference at the Congress' Indira Bhawan headquarters here. And this, he said at the outset, was not the "hydrogen bomb" revelations that he had promised. That will happen soon. Gandhi cited details of al- leged attempts to delete 6,018 votes in Karnataka's Aland constituency in the run up to 2023 assembly polls. He also gave the example of Maharashtra's Rajura constituency where he claimed 6,850 voters were added in a "fraudulent" manner using automated software. 4Continued on | P8 said the story illustrated the complex realities of conservation. "(It) is a surprising corollary to that success story: the tale of a great male tiger with a rare genetic mutation, which has highlighted what happens when an animal population rebounds but remains sequestered in a reserve, without access to a diverse gene pool," he added. 4Continued on | P8 HC was hearing an appeal filed by the family members of 6 persons who lost their lives in blast against acquittal special court judgment acquitting the seven accused in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The appeal filed last week claimed that a faulty investiga- tion or some defects in the probe cannot be the grounds for acquitting the accused. It also contended that the conspiracy (of the blast) was hatched in secrecy and hence, there cannot be direct evidence of it. The petitioners claimed the order passed by the special NIA court on July 31, acquitting the seven accused, was wrong and bad in law and hence deserved to be quashed. 4Continued on | P8 I respect all religions: CJI after backlash over idol comments PTI NEW DELHI Rare black tiger shot graces Nat Geo cover PTI PTI HC notice to NIA, 7 acquitted persons offgrid NEW DELHI Rahul fires fresh vote theft salvo, EC says allegations incorrect NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P8 Jorgan Andrews E-paper NEW DELHI 4Continued on | P8 Individuals and organisations involved in illegal production and trafficking of drugs to the US, along with their families, will face consequences MUMBAI Cinema Shining beyond the spotlight P.12 from dangerous synthetic narcotics, the US embassy in New Delhi has revoked and subsequently denied visas for certain business executives and corporate leadership based on involvement in trafficking fentanyl precursors," the mission said in a statement. NEW DELHI The US on Thursday said it has revoked and subsequently denied visas of certain Indian business executives and corporate leaders for their alleged involvement in trafficking of fentanyl precursors. However, the US embassy, making public the punitive action, did not divulge the identity of the business leaders whose visas were revoked in view of the allegations. There was no immediate comment on the issue by New Delhi. US Charge d'affaires Jorgan Andrews said individuals and organisations involved in the illegal production and trafficking of drugs to the US will face consequences. "In furtherance to the Trump administration's efforts to keep Americans safe PUNE Economic Offences Wing (EOW) officials caught forest guard Mattam Nagpure from Lalburra in Balaghat district red-handed on Thursday while accepting a bribe of Rs 3.50 lakh. The bribe was demanded from Rajendra Dhurve, a Forest guard resident of Mattam NawegaonLalburra forest village, which lies in the core area of Kanha-Pench corridor. According to DG, EOW Upendra Jain, the state government had announced Rs 15 lakh per family member under a forest dweller displacement scheme. Dhurve’s family has five members. One woman, Sukhwanti Bai, had already received Rs 5 lakh under the scheme, and the remaining amount was due. PTI BALAGHAT The body of a 22-year-old youth, Devendra Yadav, who was reported missing from September 16, was found late Wednesday night, the police said. Some villagers found Yadav’s body 500 metres away from the spot from which he was abducted. He was a resident of Posera village. Maoists abducted the youth from a forest near the village and murdered him, suspecting him to be a police informer. The incident indicates the Maoists are active in the area. When some villagers were passing from Chini to Kukra Marg under Paraswara police station and saw posters and banners put up by Maoists, they informed the police about it. ution to the tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods." He said that if the tariffs stayed on, there would be a drop in exports to the US. "I hope that the penal tariff would possibly be removed by the end of November," Nageswaran said at an event organised by the Merchants Chamber of Commerce and Industry here later in the day. He, however, clarifies that it is his intuition. Terming India as an aspirational lower-middle-income economy, Nageswaran said real GDP growth in the first quarter of the current financial year was 7.8 per cent. Post the COVID pandemic, the Indian economy grew faster than many countries, he said. PRESS Edit Fight smog, not farmers P.6 India moved to fewer GST slabs, but not yet ready for one rate: FM RELIEF FOR HILL STATION | Ground plus three rule to benefit 12,000 residents in 1,000-hectare cantonment area The Supreme Court has lifted the 25-year-old ban on construction in Pachmarhi cantonment, allowing houses up to ground plus three (G+3) floors. The move is expected to benefit around 12,000 residents living in the 1,000-hectare cantonment area. Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, representing the Cantonment Board, argued that small plot sizes, sometimes as little as 200–300 square feet, made construction impossible under earlier restrictions. The Court directed implementation of the G+3 plan for all new constructions in the UJJAIN Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Thursday affirmed his respect for "all religions" in the wake of the online criticism his comments garnered in a matter over the reconstruction of a Lord Vishnu idol. "Someone told me the other day that the comments I made have been portrayed in social media...I respect all religions," he said. A bench comprising the CJI and Justice K Vinod Chandran on May 16 dismissed the plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a sevenfoot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh. Terming the plea as a "publicity interest litigation", the CJI said, "This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then Man kills daughter after she objects to drinking habit you pray and do some meditation." The CJI had added, "In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there. there is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho." The bench had refused to entertain the plea filed by one Rakesh Dalal, who sought the replacement and consecration of the damaged idol at the Javari Temple in Chhatarpur district. 4Continued on | P8 ‘Fauj’ only place where there is no nepotism: CDS PTI RANCHI FP News Service GWALIOR A man allegedly attacked his 24-year-old daughter with chilli powder and stabbed her to death for objecting to his drinking habit as reported by Gwalior police on Thursday. The incident took place in Janakganj area of Gwalior on Thursday afternoon. According to information, the accused was identified as Badam Singh Kushwaha and the victim was Rani Kushwaha.  Before attacking daughter with knife, he threw chilli powder into her eyes to immobilise her. According to Rani’s mother, Bhagwati Bai, Badam Singh is physically disabled in one leg.  Earlier, he used to drive an auto, but after an accident during lockdown, he lost his leg after which he stayed at home.  To earn a living, the family started running a small grocery shop, which was managed by the younger daughter. The accused often sat at the shop forcibly, took money from cash counter and spent it on liquor. On Thursday, when Rani opposed her father for taking money from the shop, he got enraged. He then threw chilli powder in her eyes and stabbed her to death. Police rushed to the spot after receiving information and arrested the accused father immediately.  Initial investigations suggest that frequent family disputes and the father’s addiction to alcohol led to the crime. Police have taken the accused into custody for interrogation and further investigation is underway. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan on Thursday asserted that 'fauj' is the only place where there is no nepotism, as he urged children to aspire to join the armed forces to serve the nation and explore places. During an interaction with school children here, Gen Chauhan also said that the armed forces made maximum efforts this year to rescue citizens amid a high number of natural calamities. "The 'fauj' (army) is the only place where there is no nepotism... You should aspire to join the armed forces if you want to serve the nation, and explore the country and the world," he said. Talking about Operation Sindoor, Gen Chauhan said the first strike was conducted at 1 am on May 7 to avoid civilian casualties. 4Continued on | P8