Friday, May 23, 2025 | 28 Pages | `5 & for State (+4 pages) `6 Reg.No MCS/048/2021-23; RNI No. 1541/1957 M.p.c.s office Mumbai. PIN 400001 THE FREE PRESS JOURNAL Vol. 68 No. 197 | Leader in E-paper circulation l www.freepressjournal.in ● EDITIONS: ● MUMBAI ● INDORE ● PUNE ● BHOPAL ● NASHIK ● KONKAN ● E-paper ● Member: Audit Bureau of Circulation (July to December 2024) GAMES NATION Bhakra dam: Punjab chief minister Mann opposes Centre’s CISF deployment. Briefs Chargesheet names Malik The CBI has filed a chargesheet against former J&K governor Satyapal Malik and 7 others for alleged corruption in awarding `2,200 crore civil works for the Kiru hydropower project. Malik, critically ill and hospitalised in Delhi, was accused alongside aides and Chenab Valley Power Projects officials. The charges include criminal conspiracy and corruption under erstwhile J&K laws. Malik, who had earlier claimed he was offered a bribe, termed the CBI action as harassment. The FIR cites irregularities in awarding the tender to Patel Engineering despite prior decisions to re-tender through reverse auction. Pak expels diplomat Pakistan on Thursday expelled a staff member of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad, declaring the official persona non grata and ordering him to leave the country within 24 hours. The Indian Chargé d'Affaires was summoned to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey the decision. The Trump administration has revoked Harvard University's eligibility to enrol international students. An NYT report cited a letter to Harvard University by Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem writes, "Effective immediately, Harvard University's Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification is revoked." The report said the development is a major escalation in the administration's efforts to pressure the college to fall in line with the president's agenda. Soldier killed in Kishtwar A soldier was killed in an encounter with terrorists during a cordon and search operation by security forces in J&K's Kishtwar on Thursday, officials said. The gunfight took place when the security men were conducting a search following a tip-off about the presence of terrorists at Shingpora in Chhatru. Four terrorists are said to be trapped in the area. "Contact has been established with terrorists during a joint operation with police at Chhatru in Kishtwar this morning," the Indian Army's White Knight Corps said on X. Additional troops have been deployed and the operation is on to neutralise the terrorists, it said. Edit Operation Sindoor is also the manifestation of Nari Shakti RAUDRA ROOP | PM Narendra Modi says the ‘New India’ will give befitting reply, won’t be scared by nuclear threat and won’t distinguish between terrorist and their state sponsors ‘Pakistan was forced down on its knees’ Agencies BIKANER (RAJASTHAN) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday asserted that Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack, and that the country's enemies have learnt what happens when 'sindoor' becomes gunpowder. Speaking in Palana in Bikaner which shares a border with Pakistan he lauded India's armed forces for creating such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees. The prime minister slammed Pakistan, and said in response to the attack on April 22, "we destroyed nine biggest terror hideouts in 22 minutes. The world and the enemies of the country have seen what PM Modi at Karni Mata temple in Bikaner. happens when 'sindoor' turns into 'barood' (gunpowder)," he said. "Ab toh Modi ki naso mein lahu nahi garam sindoor beh raha hai (Not blood but sindoor runs in Modi's veins)," he said, adding, Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack. He said, "If there is a terrorist attack on India, it will get a befitting reply. The time and methods will also be decided ‘Ceasefire negotiated directly between India and Pakistan’ Agencies Trump claims credit again DELHI No int’l pupils at Harvard Cinema Aishwarya stuns Cannes in traditional Banarasi saree RCB would be aiming to consolidate their position in the top two of the IPL standings "The ceasefire was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan. We told everyone, including the US, that if they want an understanding, they have to talk to us directly. And that's why it happened," External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishanakr told the Dutch broadcaster NOS. He said several countries reached out to India during the four-day conflict and that Delhi had conveyed to all nations, including the US, that Pakistan would need to approach India directly if it sought a ceasefire, report PTI, ANI and IANS.. "We made one thing very clear to everybody who spoke to us, not just the United States but to everyone, saying if the Pakistanis want to stop fighting, they need to tell us. We need to hear it from them. Their general has to call up our general and say this. And that is what happened." "It was the Pakistani army which sent a message that they were ready to stop firing, and we responded accordingly," he said. "The US was in the United States," Jaishankar pointed out. When asked about top US officials -- including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Vice President -- reaching out to their Indian counterparts, Jaishankar confirmed they did, but clarified that they only conveyed their concerns. He added that it is natural for other countries to set up communication channels with nations engaged in military conflict. 4Contd on | nation `1.84 cr cash found in Dhule govt guest house Prajakta Pol 4Contd on | nation OVER 2,360 WAITING TO BE DEPORTED TO BANGLADESH IANS NEW DELHI Rahim Yar Khan airbase is in ICU Now there will be neither trade nor talk with Pakistan. If there will be talk, it will only be about Pak-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Ye shodh pratishodh ka khel nahin, ye nyay ka naya swaroop hai, ye Operation Sindoor hai. This is not just a retaliation; this is the 'Raudra Roop' of a strong India. Ye Bharat ka naya swaroop hai. Pehle ghar mein ghus ke kiya tha vaar, ab seene pe kiya prahar hai. (First, we entered their house and attacked; now we have attacked them on their chests)... This is the policy and the strategy to destroy the fangs of terrorism... This is new India. Online Report NEW DELHI India on Thursday urged Bangladesh to expedite the nationality verification process to facilitate the deportation of a large number of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India. Addressing a weekly media briefing, the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that people who are staying in India illegally, whether they happen to be Bangladeshi nationals or any other, will be dealt with as per law. "We have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals in India who are required to be deported. We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify the nationality. We have a pending list of more than 2360 cases of people required to be deported. Many of them have completed the jail process. In many cases, the nationality verification process has been pending since 2020," said Jaiswal. 4Contd on | nation Megha Kuchik Arjun Khotkar and political conspiracy. In a move to quickly tamp down the controversy, 4Contd on | nation PM inaugurates 12 revamped stations Kamal Mishra MUMBAI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday virtually inaugurated 12 redeveloped Central Railway stations in Maharashtra. The initiative was a part of the Amrit Bharat Station scheme under which 103 stations revamped across the country were dedicated to the public during the event. Among the 12 stations in Maharashtra, five are part of the Mumbai central section — The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the investigation and raid of the Enforcement Directorate against the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) saying that the Enforcement Directorate was violating the federal structure of the country. "Your ED is crossing all limits. How can there be the offence against the corporation?", Chief Justice of India BR Gavai asked Additional Solicitor General SV Raju. "ED is crossing all limits. You are totally violating the federal structure of the country," CJI Gavai said, Live Law reports. A bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih was hearing the petitions filed by the State of Tamil Nadu and TASMAC challenging Madras High Court's rejection of its plea against searches conducted by the Enforcement “ED is crossing all limits. You are totally violating the federal structure of the country” – Chief Justice of India BR Gavai Directorate on the TASMAC headquarters. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, for the State, said that the State itself has filed 41 FIRs against liquor outlet operators over allegations of corruption from 2014-21. However, ED entered the scene in 2025 and raided the Headquarters and took the phones and devices of the officers, Sibal said."This is a corporation giving liquor outlets. And we found some of the people to whom outlets have been given are actually taking cash. So, the State itself filed 41 FIRs from 2014-21 against individuals, not against the corporation. The ED comes into Man, woman held for trespass MUMBAI Anil Gote New look Parel station. PIC: VIJAY GOHIL Two individuals—a man and a woman—made separate attempts to illegally enter Bollywood actor Salman Khan's seafacing residence, Galaxy Apartments, in Bandra West. Both incidents occurred on May 20. The 59-year-old actor, who faces threat from the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, has Y + security. The woman, identified as Isha Chhabra, 33, was arrested by the police. The man, identified as Jitendra Kumar Singh, 23, was detained and later released after being served a no- tice by the Bandra police. The Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Bandra remanded Chhabra to police custody until May 23. The woman is apparently a struggling actress while the man is unemployed. Both claimed to be his fans. Police say Isha arrived at Galaxy Apartments around 3:30 a.m. on May 20 and illegally entered through the building's gate. Police officers deployed at the actor’s residence noticed her and stopped her. Vinay Madhava Gowda Congress calls it vendetta against Home Minister Parameshwar who is a Dalit leader In a dramatic development with far-reaching political ramifications, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has unearthed a money laundering trail linking Karnataka Home Minister Dr G. Parameshwar’s Siddartha Education Trust with South Indian actress Ranya Rao, arrested recently by Customs officials for gold smuggling from Dubai. After a marathon 27-hour raid across 16 locations tied to the Trust, ED sleuths on Thursday morning claimed they had gathered crucial evidence connecting Rao to a web of illegal financial transactions routed through the Trust and other entities. “Several serious financial irregularities including layering of proceeds have been identified,” an ED official said. “Ranya Rao received large sums through fake transactions and non-existent consultation income.” Interrogations with hawala operators and individuals involved in the illegal foreign exchange network revealed they had facilitated transactions for Ranya Rao, who allegedly supplied smuggled gold to buyers that included jewellery mer- chants. According to ED sources, some companies made entries into her accounts showing bogus payments for services like construction labour supply, without any actual work performed. Crucially, the probe found that the Siddartha Education Trust diverted Rs 40 lakh to pay off Ranya Rao’s credit card dues. “The payment was made after instruction from the Chairman. No supporting vouchers or documentation were found,” officials said. 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation SC reserves Waqf orders FPJ News Service MUMBAI 4Contd on | nation 4Contd on | nation AP WASHINGTON Sarah Milgrim. Lischinsky was a research assistant, and Milgrim organised visits and missions to Israel. They were leaving an event at the Capital Jewish Museum when the suspect approached a group of four people and opened fire, Metropolitan Po- picture in 2025 and raids the corporation (TASMAC) and the head-office. All phones taken, everything taken. Everything cloned," Sibal said. At this point, CJI Gavai asked ASG how the offence was made out against the corporation. "You may register against the individuals, but against the corporation a criminal matter? Your ED is crossing all limits, Mr. Raju" CJI said.The bench ordered notice on the petition to the ED. "In the meantime, there shall be stay of further proceedings qua the petitioners," the bench observed in the order. Sibal said that the Court should restrict the ED from using the data they have taken from phones and devices. "This is an issue of privacy!" Sibal said. CJI Gavai said that the Court has already given the interim relief and can't pass further directions. lice Chief Pamela Smith said at a news conference. Yoni Kalin and Katie Kalisher were inside the museum when they heard gunshots and a man came inside looking distressed, they said. 4Contd on | nation WASHINGTON SHOOTING Two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington were shot and killed Wednesday evening while leaving an event at a Jewish museum, and the suspect yelled, "Free, free Palestine" after he was arrested, police said. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar identified the victims as Yaron Lischinsky and 4See also | city, nation The SC on Thursday reserved its interim orders on three contentious aspects of the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, following marathon arguments spread over three days. The law, which governs the administration of waqf properties, has triggered a legal challenge from prominent Muslim petitioners. A bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih heard senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Rajeev Dhavan, and Abhishek Singhvi arguing for the petitioners. They criticised the amendment as a “complete departure from historical legal and constitutional principles,” accusing the Centre of attempting to capture waqf properties via a “non-judicial process.” The key issues in contention include the Centre’s new power to denotify properties already declared as waqf by courts, ED links Parameshwar to Ranya Rao Two Israeli embassy staff killed BENGALURU Parel, Matunga, Wadala Road, Chinchpokli, and Shahad . These modernized stations feature upgraded amenities, improved aesthetics, and better accessibility, aligning with the government’s vision of airport-like facilities at major railway hubs. The redevelopment includes five stations each in the Mumbai and Bhusaval divisions, and two in the Pune division. SC stays ED PMLA probe on TASMAC SALMAN KHAN'S GALAXY APARTMENTS MUMBAI Controversy erupted following the seizure of Rs 1.84 crore in cash from Room No. 102 at the Gulmohar Government Guest House in Dhule. The dramatic incident unfolded during the visit of the Maharashtra Legislature’s Estimates Committee, sparking serious allegations of bribery, corruption cover-up, US President Donald Trump has for the eight time repeated his claim that he brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. During an Oval Office meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Trump said, "If you take a look at what we just did with Pakistan and India. We settled that whole, and I think I settled it through trade." Trump added, "And I said, ‘What are you guys doing?’ Somebody had to be the last one to shoot. But the shooting was getting worse and worse, bigger and bigger, deeper and deeper into the countries. And we spoke to them, and I think we, you know, I hate to say we got it settled, and then two days later, something happens, and they say it's Trump's fault.” by our army and the conditions will also be ours. India is not going to be scared by the threat of atom bomb. Thirdly, we will not see the perpetrators of terror and the government patronising the terrorists separately. We will consider them as one," he said, adding these are three "sutras" from Operation Sindoor. He said the game of Pakistan of state and non-state actors will not work anymore. Lauding the armed forces for carrying out Operation Sindoor, he said "Our government gave free hand to all three armed forces. Together they created such a trap that Pakistan was forced to go down on its knees". Ab toh Modi ki naso mein lahu nahi garam sindoor beh raha hai (Not blood but sindoor runs in Modi's veins)