FP The publishers permit sharing of the e-paper's pdf on WhatsApp and other social media platforms FREE PRESS Vol. 15 No. 264 | BHOPAL | MONDAY | MARCH 9, 2026 | Pages 12 ` 3 | Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2024-2026 | RNI No. mpeng/2010/35815 www.freepressjournal.in Nation Home Secy nudges Bengal over Prez protocol lapses P.8 ESTD-1983 iii QUALITY @ VALUE EDITIONS: BHOPAL UJJAIN PUNE MONEY INDORE NASHIK Cinema Khushi turns up the glam P.12 DHURANDHARS The Records Tumbled 1ST First team to defend T20 World Cup title. First team to win three T20 World Cups. Highest total in a T20 World Cup final. Largest victory margin in a T20 World Cup final (by runs). Agencies In front of a delirious 132,000-strong crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the defending champions didn't just win—they conquered. India produced a near-flawless performance to crush New Zealand by 96 fp Briefs NEW DELHI AI to operate addl flights Air India on Sunday announced that it will deploy additional capacity to five key gateways in Europe, as well as to New York (JFK)1 over the next few days, supported by additional services to the Maldives and Sri Lanka. According to an official release, between 10 and 18 March 2026, Air India will operate 78 additional flights. NEW DELHI India ramps up oil purchases India has started securing additional crude oil supplies from alternative global sources as the conflict involving Iran continues to disrupt energy flows in West Asia. Indian refiners are negotiating cargoes from countries such as the United States, Russia and producers in West Africa to ensure stable fuel supplies if the geopolitical tensions persist, according to the sources. BIRMINGHAM Lakshya settles for silver India’s Lakshya Sen finished runner-up at the All England Open 2026 after losing 21-15, 22-20 to Chinese Taipei’s Lin Chun-Yi in the men’s singles final on Sunday. The 57-minute contest saw Sen push Lin into long rallies but struggle with consistency. Lin became the first men’s singles player from Chinese Taipei to win the prestigious title. On November 19, 2023, this stadium watched India cry. On March 8, 2026, it watched India conquer. runs in the T20 World Cup final, becoming the first team in history to defend the crown and the first to RS 1,085 CRORE BANK FRAUD CASE CBI registers FIR against Anil Ambani, RCom Agencies NEW DELHI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a case against industrialist Anil Ambani, his company Reliance Communications Limited, and its former director Manjari Ashok Kacker in connection with an alleged bank fraud case involving more than Rs 1,085 crore. According to the FIR registered by the agency on March 5, the case has been filed on a complaint by Punjab National Bank (PNB). The complaint was lodged by Santoshkrishna Annavarpu, Chief Manager of the bank's Stressed Assets Management Branch in Mumbai. As per the FIR, the accused allegedly cheated PNB and United Bank of India (now merged with PNB) during the period between 2013 and 2017, causing a wrongful loss of about Rs 1,085.19 crore to the banks. The alleged loss includes Rs 621.39 crore to PNB and Rs 463.80 crore to United Bank of India. The FIR states that the accused persons allegedly entered into a criminal conspiracy and dishonestly induced the banks to sanction credit facilities to Reliance Communications. 4Continued on | P8 win three T20 World Cup titles. CELEBRATION: HISTORY IN PINK AND BLUE As the last wicket fell, the Narendra Modi Stadium erupted. Suryakumar Yadav lifted the trophy as teammates mobbed each other— a moment 364 days in the BRIEF SCORES India - 255 for loss of five wickets in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Ishan Kishan 54, Abhishek Sharma 52; James Neesham 3/46) defeated New Zealand - 159 all out in 19 overs (Tim Seifert 52; Axar Patel 3/27, Jasprit Bumrah 1/12, Hardik Pandya 1/18, Varun Chakravarthy 1/35, Arshdeep Singh 1/28) by 96 runs. making, avenging the ghosts of the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same venue. (** INDIA INNINGS REPORT ON SPORTS PAGE) MP health services to be paralysed with JUDA strike from today Our Staff Reporter BHOPAL Health services, particularly non-emergency care in government medical colleges across Madhya Pradesh, are expected to be disrupted from Monday. Around 8,000 resident doctors will go on strike, demanding a revision of stipends and pending arrears. The Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) has warned that if the government does not act immediately on their demands, OPD 8,000 resident doctors will go on strike, demanding a revision of stipends, pending arrears services will be closed and only emergency patients will be treated. This strike could directly affect patients visiting hospitals, with routine operations such as orthopaedic and other planned surgeries likely to be postponed, lead- E-paper Edit Nepal’s Gen Z gamble P.6 Geopolitics, data set stage for gold volatility; investors on edge HISTORY IN AHMEDABAD | India crush New Zealand by 96 runs AHMEDABAD MUMBAI ing to longer waiting times. On Sunday, JUDA organised a rally called the “Justice March” to protest delayed implementation of CPIbased stipend revisions. The doctors are demanding that stipends be linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to address inflation and rising living costs. In Madhya Pradesh, a previous CPIlinked hike in 2021 increased stipends by 17 per cent to around Rs 71,000–Rs 77,000, 4Continued on | P8 Iran war to continue for little while: Trump Agencies WASHINGTON DC US President Donald Trump on Saturday (US local time) claimed that the United States had wiped out the entire leadership in Iran and called the actions getting rid of a major 'cancer' off the face of the earth. When asked whether the United States was responsible for the bombing of an elementary girls' school in Iran, Trump flat out denied the allegations and instead called Iran for bombing the school slating inaccuracy of Iranian weapons as a reason. Trump said, "No, I don't believe so. Based on what I've seen that was done by Iran. We think it was done by Iran because they're very inaccurate as you know with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran." He made the remarks aboard Air Force One en route to Miami. Trump said, "We're winning the war by a lot. We've decimated their whole evil empire. It'll continue I'm sure for a little while...The war itself is going unbelievably. It's as good as it can be." Smoke rises from an oil storage facility hit by a US-Israeli strike late Saturday in Tehran Misinterpreted by enemy: Iran clarifies stance on regional ties Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has clarified that his previous statements regarding regional military operations were "misinterpreted by the enemy that seeks to sow division with neighbours," according to state media reports cited by The Times of Israel. The clarification follows a period of diplomatic confusion where earlier comments suggested a potential suspension of military actions against Gulf nations, even as regional strikes continued. Addressing these perceptions, Pezeshkian emphasised the importance of fraternal ties, stating, "It has repeatedly been said we are brothers and must have good relations with neighbours." However, Pezeshkian maintained a stance of defensive necessity, noting that Tehran is "forced to retaliate to attacks" but clarified that this does not imply a dispute with neighbouring countries or a desire to "upset their people." 4Continued on | P8 US-Israel consider to deploy Spl Desalination Forces to seize Iran nuke stock plant hit in Agencies media, warning of lethal conBahrain sequences for any entities that WASHINGTON, DC The US and Israel have held discussions regarding the potential deployment of special forces into Iran to secure the country's stockpile of highly enriched uranium, as reported by Axios. According to four sources with knowledge of the discussions cited by Axios, such an operation would be considered at a later stage of the ongoing war. The move highlights the critical focus on Iranian nuclear assets as hostilities continue to escalate. Reinforcing this strategic objective, United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a new threat via social target American citizens. The warning, shared in a post by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) on X, underlined the administration's uncompromising stance on national security. "If you kill Americans, if you threaten Americans anywhere on earth, we will hunt you down without apology and without hesitation, and we will kill you," US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was quoted as saying. Accompanying this stern message, a 21-second video clip was released, providing a visual demonstration of the military's current reach. 4Continued on | P8 AP DUBAI Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant on Sunday, raising fears that civilian infrastructure may become fair game in the war, as Iran's president vowed to expand the country's attacks on American targets across the region in the face of intense US and Israeli airstrikes. A late-night Israeli strike on an oil facility engulfed parts of Iran's capital, Tehran, in smoke on Sunday, while Israel renewed attacks in Lebanon. President Donald Trump and 4Continued on | P8 Nitish Kumar’s son Nishant joins JDU Dheeraj Kumar PATNA colour carnival Revellers soaked in vibrant colours during a procession in Bhopal on Rangpanchami on Sunday Oldest tigress Langdi Baghin dies Wang Yi calls for India-China unity Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar's son Nishant Kumar on Sunday joined the party and vowed to carry Nitish Kumar's legacy forward. Nitish Kumar was conspicuous by his absence at the induction ceremony. After his formal induction into the party, Nishant Kumar addressed JD(U) workers and vowed to carry forward his father's legacy. “I will work for the party as an active member. My father has decided to go to the Rajya Our Staff Reporter Agencies Agencies BEIJING NEW DELHI The oldest tigress of Pench Tiger Reserve, P N 20, popularly known among tourists as Langdi Baghin, died a natural death on Sunday. The tigress was found dead in the Karmajhiri forest range at around 10.30 am. She was 18 years old and was considered the longest-surviving tigress in the reserve. Officials of Pench Tiger Reserve said the tigress had become weak due to old age and died of age-related complications. Born in 2008, she gave birth Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for enhanced cooperation between New Delhi and Beijing during a news conference held on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress in Beijing. The senior diplomat emphasised the importance of bilateral collaboration, stating that "India and China must step up and support each other's presidency of BRICS over the next two years." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday stepped up his attack on the TMC government in West Bengal over the treatment meted out to President Droupadi Murmu, saying the "enlightened people" of the state will never forgive the party for "insulting" a woman tribal leader and the President of the country. "Today, as the nation celebrates International Women's Day, it is deeply concerning that just yesterday, the TMC government in West Bengal demonstrated a grave contributed to the growth of the tiger population in the reserve. 4Continued on | P8 4See also | World 4Continued on | P8 PM slams ‘insult’ to Prez, Didi retorts BHOPAL to 10 cubs during her lifetime. She first delivered two cubs in 2012 and later had litters in 2016, 2019 and 2021. Through these litters, she significantly Sabha and I respect his decision. I will try to live up to the faith that the people and the party have placed in me. I will try to take forward what my father has done in 20 years. Everyone remembers what my father has done for the state,” he said. He said he would make efforts to strengthen the party and requested workers to maintain their faith in his father. “I will work under my father's guidance. I will try to make a place in people’s hearts. I respect my father’s decision to move to the Rajya Sabha,” he added. insult towards the honourable President of India, Draupadi Murmu," the prime minister said in the national capital after inaugurating two new Delhi Metro corridors and other projects. Modi's remarks came after President Murmu expressed displeasure over the change of venue of a conference of the tribal Santal community in West Bengal on Saturday and the absence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her ministers during her visit. On other hand, taking the unprecedented verbal battle a notch higher, the West Bengal Chief Minister accused PM Narendra Modi of “insulting” the country’s highest Constitutional chair, rebutting his attack against the TMC government on the same grounds. To support her claim, Banerjee held up an enlarged photograph of the PM remaining seated at an event with veteran BJP leader LK Advani, with the President standing next to them. 4Continued on | P8