21042026-LT-01.qxd 4/21/2026 1:11 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune GOVT EXTENDS APAR FILING DEADLINE TO APRIL 26 AUNTY SUDHA AUNTY RADHA & THE ART OF LOVING & LIVING » MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 40°C | MIN 21°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 20°C KAPIL SHARMA HONOURED AT PUNJABI ICON AWARDS In a career spanning over 3 decades, Tanuja Chandra has consistently told stories that linger. P4 The extension applies to all Group A, B, C and D employees across the state. P3 FORECAST Organised by Cong leader Charan Sapra, event brought together leading names from entertainment. P4 » SUNSET TUESDAY 6.53 PM SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:49 AM » TUESDAY | 21 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA Bookie Raju running IPL betting racket from abroad, ED may pitch in for probe Was in touch with one of four suspects nabbed recently by Khanna police LOOKOUT NOTICE ISSUED Nikhil Bhardwaj ❝ Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Rajiv Anand, alias Raju Sattewala, a notorious gambler and a bookie in Khanna, Ludhiana district, is again in the news for all the wrong reasons. The Khanna police investigation into the highprofile IPL cricket betting racket has found that Raju was the kingpin of the racket. The police believe that he had been running the racket from abroad. Already facing over a dozen FIRs registered against him in past years, Raju had fled abroad and did not return. He is said to be in touch with his accomplices in the country for running the cricket betting racket at a large scale. Talking to The Tribune, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Khanna, Darpan Now, a lookout circular has been issued against Raju. He will be nabbed once he lands at any airport in the country. Probe is also on to identify more members of his gang, who are active in Punjab or across the country. ❞ Rajiv Anand, alias Raju Sattewala — Darpan Ahluwalia, SSP, KHANNA Ahluwalia, said Raju was the notorious bookie in Khanna in the past years. He had been facing 16 cases, mostly betting and gambling, registered across the state. Of the 16 cases, one was registered against him under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in Delhi. Interestingly, the first case was registered against Raju on the charge of gambling in 1994 at Mandi Gobindgarh while the last one was registered in Maharashtra in 2015. After the Khanna police arrested four suspects in the IPL cricket betting racket and also found Rs 42.3 lakh stashed in their bank accounts, role of Raju came to the fore and he was also nominated in the case. He was found to be the kingpin of the racket operating from abroad, likely from Dubai. Among the four suspects arrested recently, Dinesh Chhabra, his brother Karan Chhabra, Mahinder Singh, alias Raja, and Naresh Kumar, Raju was in constant touch with Dinesh, Dr Ahluwalia said. When asked if Raju was already wanted by the police in Punjab and Delhi as he is facing 16 cases, the SSP said the exact status of past cases could not be confirmed as the probe, though going at a good pace, was in the initial stage. But for the Khanna police, the suspect is a kingpin of the betting racket and proceedings would be initiated to arrest him. “Now, a lookout circular (LOC) has been issued against Raju. He would be arrested once he lands at any airport in the country. Probe is also on to identify more members of Raju’s gang, who are active in Punjab or across the country,” she revealed. The SSP said since the key accused suspected to be hiding in Dubai and to explore further angle of money laundering, the Khanna police have written to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and relevant information about the case had been shared with the premier agency. A special team of cyber cell has been entrusted the investigation of the highprofile racket. No other official of the local police, except the members of the team, was allowed to take part in the probe. Ludhiana’s Tavish Goyal bags AIR 493 in JEE Main SUPPORT FROM KIN PLAYED KEY ROLE Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Bringing laurels to the city, Tavish Goyal has secured All India Rank (AIR) 493 in the JEE Main, 2026, emerging as the one of the Ludhiana toppers with an impressive 99.973 percentile. A student of Spring Bells Day Boarding Senior Secondary School, Tavish maintained consistent performance in both sessions of the examination, scoring 99.973 percentile in Session 1 and 99.96 percentile in Session 2. Earlier, he had scored 97.4 per cent in his Class X examinations. He prepared for the highly competitive exam under the guidance of Tavish Goyal Aakash Institute, Ludhiana. He attributed his success to regular study, strong conceptual clarity and a disciplined routine. Son of Dr Neeraj Goyal, a urologist, and Shweta Goyal, owner and administrator of NG Hospital, Tavish said the constant support from Son of Dr Neeraj Goyal, a urologist, and Shweta Goyal, owner and administrator of NG Hospital, Tavish said the constant support from his family played a key role in his achievement. Besides academics, he enjoys playing badminton and takes part in sports and outdoor activities. He now aims to pursue BTech in computer science. his family played a key role in his achievement. Apart from academics, he enjoys playing badminton and takes part in sports and outdoor activities. He now aims to pursue BTech in computer science. Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 After a video of Haryana Roadways bus being driven on wrong side on the Dugri road went viral on social media, the traffic police took immediate action and issued a challan. As per information, in an attempt to save a few minutes, the bus driver risked not only risked his own life but also of other commuters on the road. As soon as the video came to the attention of the police, the department swung into action. Traffic police officials said the video reached them via social media. A special police team then probed the same and identified the bus with the help of its number. On Monday, the police issued a hefty fine for violating traffic rules and issued a strict warning to the bus owner and driver. Police investigation revealed that to avoid traffic jam or to reach early, the driver took a shortcut on the Dugri road and drove the bus in the wrong direction. The traffic police said: “Our social media team is monitoring every platform. If a commuter is breaking traffic rules and someone takes a video of the same, don’t assume you’ll be spared. Violations will not be tolerated at any cost.” Safety gear Girls walk with umbrellas to save themselves from scorching heat in Ludhiana. ASHWANI DHIMAN Clash erupts in Sanjay Gandhi Colony, 11 booked Tribune News Service Hry roadways bus challaned for driving on wrong side Residents booked for thrashing youth over suspicion of theft Nikhil Bhardwaj Ludhiana, April 20 The police have registered a case in an incident in which a youth was brutally beaten up by residents of a locality here over suspicion of theft. On Noorwala Road, a group of residents allegedly took the law into their own hands and gave punishment to a youth over suspicion of theft on Sunday evening. The victim was reportedly tied to an electric pole, brutally beaten, head forcibly shaved and then paraded through the locality. A video of the incident, recorded by bystanders, soon went viral on social media, triggering outrage. Taking cognisance of the matter, Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma directed officials to register a case against those involved in the assault. Afterwards, a case was registered. Cow dung continues to pollute Farmer dies of suspected heart Buddha Nullah, says Seechewal attack while dousing flames in field Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 Rajya Sabha member Balbir Singh Seechewal on Monday raised serious concerns over cow dung being discharged into the Buddha Nullah and said it was polluting the water body. Seechewal has been at the forefront of a campaign to make Budda Nullah pollution-free. Earlier in the month, he announced clean Buddha Nullah water had reached city limits. Seechewal said the closure of six motors at the Haibowal Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) had resulted in dung-mixed wastewater entering the streets of the dairy complex, causing inconvenience to the residents. The administration restarted the motors after my team flagged the issue, he said. Seechewal told the officials concerned that fulfilling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s vision of “Rangla Punjab” required cleaning the Buddha Nullah as the state’s identity was tied to its rivers. Seechewal, along with officials from various departments, inspected sewer lines near Ladhowal Bypass and in Jainpur, Talwara and Baranhade areas. The issue of dairy waste entering the Buddha Nullah through the Barewala drain near the Balloki Bridge was also raised. The officials reviewed silt being removed from the river using machines near Shivpuri Bridge. Blaze reportedly occurred due to short-circuit Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 A 42-year-old farmer died of a suspected heart attack while trying to extinguish fire that broke out in his wheat field at Salana Bet village near here on Monday morning. According to information, the fire started around 8:30 continued to control the blaze. The farmer reportedly suffered a heart attack, possibly triggered by panic and smoke inhalation. Residents rushed him to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The incident has left the residents in a state of shock. The area where the incident occurred falls under the jurisdiction of the Jodhewal police station. Local residents alleged that they had caught the youth while stealing and angered by a recent spate of thefts in the area, the people decided to punish him on their own, instead of informing the police. The residents allegedly assaulted the youth before shaving his head. Later, he was forced to walk through the neighbourhood. The act was recorded by the people. Police officials said strict action would be taken against those responsible for the assault on the youth, reiterating that no one has the right to take law into their own hands. FIR filed against eatery for playing loud music at night Ludhiana, April 20 The Ludhiana police have registered a case against the management of OUZU, a restaurant situated in Sarabha Nagar for playing loud music at night. The police responded to a complaint from residents of the Sarabha Nagar area in Ludhiana that they were disturbed by the loud music played by the eatery late on Sunday night. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 20 A clash broke out between two rival groups in Sanjay Gandhi Colony on Tajpur Road here on Sunday night, triggered by a long-standing grudge. The incident involved heavy stone-pelting and firing, turning the locality into a battlefield for some time. The violence occurred around 10:30 pm. SHO, Division-7, Gagan Deep Singh, said a case was registered against 11 persons, including Suraj, Ashish and Grewal. No arrests were made so far in the case. The SHO revealed that a dispute had been simmering for a long time between two local youths — Ashish and Grewal — both of whom already have criminal cases registered against them. On Sunday afternoon, Grewal allegedly thrashed Ashish during an argument, leaving one of his legs injured. To avenge the humiliation, Ashish gathered 30 to 40 companions late in the night and launched a targeted attack on Grewal’s house. The situation quickly escalated as both sides came face to face, leading to a fierce street fight. Stones and bricks were hurled in large numbers, while firing was also reported to create panic in the area. Local women alleged that the attackers threw bottles at houses and threatened to set them on fire. The stone-pelting was soon followed by firing, after which frightened residents took shelter inside their homes. Police teams rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Cong leaders working at individual level, fail to show unity Shivani Bhakoo Tribune News Service MP Balbir Singh Seechewal and others on the banks of Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana on Monday. am, reportedly due to shortcircuit and soon spread to the entire wheat field of Mandeep Singh. He, along with other villagers, rushed to the spot on a tractor and started dousing the flames. Despite thick smoke engulfing the area and the fire rapidly spreading through the standing crop, he Video of incident goes viral; guilty to face action, say police Ludhiana, April 20 Congress leaders in Ludhiana, though currently maintaining a low profile and not presenting a united front, are actively engaged in their respective constituencies. Several new faces have also emerged, reaching out to the public in an effort to establish their presence and demonstrate their potential impact. Interestingly, from May onwards, the Congress high command is expected to shift its complete c m y b focus to the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. “We expect surveys to begin from May to assess the ground-level feedback and evaluate potential candidates,” said Pawan Dewan. However, a senior Congress leader, speaking off the record, described the state leadership as a “brigade of incompetents.” He alleged that seasoned leaders such as Charanjit Singh Channi, Pargat Singh, Kiki Dhillon, Rana Gurjit Singh and Sukhjinder Singh Sarkaria have been sidelined, adding that the party was being run like a “private limited firm”. In Ludhiana South, names doing the rounds include Ishwarjot Cheema, Balwinder Singh Bains, KK Baba and Nicky Riat. In the Central constituency, Surinder Dawar and Yogesh Handa are being discussed as potential contenders. In the North constituency, Rakesh Pandey and Ramesh Joshi are active, while speculation is rife that Sunny Bhalla, a close aide of Bharat Bhushan Ashu, could emerge as a strong aspirant. For the West constituency, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Pawan Dewan are seen actively holding meetings with residents. In Atam Nagar, Simarjit Singh Bains and Kamaljit Karwal are likely to be in direct competition for the ticket. The East constituency appears to have the highest number of aspirants, with Sanjay Talwar, Gaurav Bhatti, Gurmail Pahalwan and Ramesh Sharma emerging as front runners for the upcoming Assem- bly elections. Bharat Bhushan Ashu said his primary focus remains his constituency. “I am working for the people of Ludhiana West. Beyond that, if any responsibility is assigned to me, I will try to do justice to it,” he said. Meanwhile, Gurmail Pahalwan has already expressed dissatisfaction with the party high command over the selection of the district-level committee, alleging that it has failed to unify leaders even as the the Assembly elections draw closer.