04082026-CT-01.qxd 04-08-2026 00:35 Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune PGI’S BODY WINS NATIONAL AWARD FOR THIRD TIME OLY ASSN POLLS ON HOLD AS HEARING FIXED FOR MARCH 3 IMTIAZ ALI, ANURAG KASHYAP TO PRESENT SHORT FILM Bags the prestigious National Award for Best Regional Organ & Tissue Transplant Organisation. P3 Resolution of controversy over which COA faction has a legitimate claim seems nowhere in sight. P3 They have collaborated to present Bobby Beauty Parlour, premiering during Friendship Week. P4 » » MAX 33°C | MIN 27°C YESTERDAY MAX 34.7°C | MIN 26.2°C SUNRISE WEDNESDAY 5:44 AM /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE Majorityof works cleared Removal of load-bearing wall led by MC House still on paper to building collapse, says report INDUSTRIAL AREA TRAGEDY CHANDIGARH 55 PANCHKULA 40 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 29 and 56, & Dhanas Mohali: Sec 68, 71 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com POWER SHUTDOWN CHANDIGARH 10 am to 2 pm: Parts of Mauli Complex, Motor Market in Manimajra 10.30 am to 3.30 pm:Sectors 41 & 42 CREST fund scam accused denied bail Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 A Special CBI Court has dismissed the bail application of Ankur Sharma, who was arrested in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Rs 83 crore from the funds of the Chandigarh Renewable Energy and Science & Technology Promotion Society (CREST) maintained with IDFC First Bank, Sector 32. Special Judge Bhawna Jain rejected the plea after hearing arguments from both sides. The counsel for the accused submitted that Sharma had been in judicial custody for more than four months. The investigation had already been completed and the final report under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) had been filed. The defence further contended that the trial was likely to take a considerable amount of time due to the voluminous documentary and electronic evidence cited by the prosecution. The prosecution, however, opposed the bail plea. The Public Prosecutor submitted that, as per the chargesheet, Sharma was one of the directors and the controlling authorised signatory of M/s SRR Planning Gurus Private Limited, a beneficiary company that allegedly received misappropriated government funds amounting to Rs 26.90 crore through CAPCO Fintech Services. The company also allegedly received Rs 4.76 crore from Swastik Desh Project and substantial amounts from the accounts of the main conspirator, Ribhav Rishi. The prosecution further argued that another director of the company, Kamlesh Rishi, is the mother of the main conspirator, while Sharma was Ribhav Rishi’s chartered accountant. It alleged that Sharma actively participated in the misappropriation of funds and was one of the principal beneficiaries of the proceeds. According to the prosecution, the company’s accounts with Yes Bank and RBL Bank were operated solely by Sharma. The Yes Bank current continued on page 3 Ramkrishan Upadhyay Action taken report reveals 99 agenda items passed by House, 189 by F&CC since Jan, but most projects are yet to take off Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 A majority of development works worth crores of rupees approved by the General House and the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) of the Municipal Corporation over the past six months have either failed to begin or are moving at a snail’s pace. The status came to light through an action taken report (ATR) tabled before the Municipal Corporation’s House on Friday. According to the ATR, the House approved 99 developmentrelated agenda items since January. Similarly, the Finance and Contract Committee cleared 189 development works during the same period. However, a large number of these projects remain pending. In many cases, even the preliminary stage of preparing tender documents has not been completed. The F&CC, in its meeting held on February 17, approved a proposal to replace old streetlights with high-wattage decorative LED globe lights in various markets, including Sector 22. However, the ATR states that the tender document has not been finalised as a policy decision regarding decorative lights is still pending. Similarly, the upgrade of the Sector 37 market, estimated to cost over Rs 47 lakh, has made no progress. Dushyant Singh Pundir Tribune News Service FILE AIR QUALITY INDEX 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 GENERALLY CLOUDY SUNSET TUESDAY 7.14 PM » TUESDAY | 4 AUGUST 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST KEY PENDING WORKS ■ Replacement of old streetlights with LED globe lights in markets ■ Upgrade of Sector 37 market at a cost of ~47 lakh ■ Renovation of the Community Centre in Mauli Jagran ■ Installation of railings in green belts and parks in sectors ■ Shed extension at a segregation plant in Dadumajra HAVE TOLD OFFICIALS TO COMPLETE WORKS the authority to approve ❝The House hasexecution rests with the projects, but their officers. I have directed the officials to complete all approved works in a time-bound manner. — Saurabh Joshi, MAYOR ❞ According to the report, the selected agency did not agree to the negotiated rates, following which the matter was referred to the Superintending Engineer (Buildings and Roads) for approval. Another project involving the special renovation of the Community Centre in Mauli Jagran is also awaiting progress, with the ATR stat- ing that the tender document is still under preparation. The proposal for installing railings in green belts and parks across various sectors also remains pending. Several projects approved by the MC House are also awaiting execution. In some cases, the works have been allotted but are yet to be completed. continued on page 3 Chandigarh, August 3 The removal of a load-bearing wall during renovation work led to the collapse of a two-storey building in the Industrial Area, Phase II, on July 4, claiming two lives. According to an inquiry report submitted on Monday, the structural failure was primarily caused by the collapse of the building’s load-bearing masonry system, while the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) framework remained largely intact. The findings have been corroborated by a report submitted by the Civil Engineering Department of the National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTR). According to the report, the collapsed structure was a loadbearing brick masonry building incorporating RCC beams and slabs. The assessment found that the RCC beams and slabs were generally in sound condition, indicating that the failure did not originate in the concrete framework. Instead, the collapse is believed to have begun at the front load-bearing masonry line, triggering a progressive failure of the RCC floor system it supported. The report also highlighted several structural deficiencies that compromised the building’s stability. It observed that A rescue operation underway at the site of the building collapse in the Industrial Area, Phase II. FILE the absence of continuous roof and seismic bands, coupled with large window openings separated by relatively narrow masonry piers, significantly reduced the overall robustness of the load-bearing system. These design features are believed to have made the structure more vulnerable to progressive collapse. Importantly, the technical inspection did not reveal any visual signs of significant reinforcement corrosion, concrete deterioration, environmental degradation or any other long-term material distress that could independently account for the collapse. The inquiry also examined whether the building had violated any statutory regulations. Officials said records confirmed that the building plan had been duly approved by the competent authority and that the owners had obtained the required Fire Safety Certificate. However, the building had not been issued an Occupation Certificate. Investigators also examined whether there had been any omissions or commissions on the part of those occupying or managing the property, particularly regarding the alleged removal of the front load-bearing masonry wall during renovation. Statements recorded from multiple individuals indicated that the renovation work was being supervised by Tarun Kaushik, who had allegedly instructed the removal of the wall. The investigation noted that Kaushik himself died in the incident. He was killed along with his close associate, Tarun Jain. The Chandigarh Administration had ordered an inquiry into the collapse on July 5. The SDM (East) was tasked with probing the incident and determining the cause of the collapse. The Estate Office’s building branch and the UT Engineering Department assisted in the inquiry. Evening showers bring relief from heat, humidity Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 After a hot and humid day, medium to heavy rain lashed parts of the Tricity on Monday evening, bringing the much-needed relief from the prolonged dry spell. The showers began around 7 pm and continued for nearly half an hour. The rain led to waterlogging and flooding at several locations across Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, with roads, streets, markets, parking lots, rotaries and busy junctions submerged under rainwater. The evening downpour triggered traffic snarls during peak office hours. While the rain provided respite from the prevailing hot and humid conditions, Monday evening rain brought much-needed relief from hot and humid conditions in the Tricity. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR Rain deficit persists, yellow alert for today the relief was short-lived as humidity levels remained high after the showers. Ironically, the rain came on a day when the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) yellow alert for heavy rain had largely failed during daytime. Except for brief scattered showers in isolated pockets, most parts of the Tricity remained dry till evening. The widespread rain occurred only after the IMD’s official 5.30 pm observation period, and therefore not reflected in the day’s rainfall data. Despite the evening showers, the monsoon continues to continued on page 2 Bapu Dham police post in-charge, 19 years on, relief for kin of Captain ASI caught taking ~2.5-lakh bribe killed in accident hiked by 728% Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 A team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday arrested two UT police personnel for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh on the pretext of registering a theft case involving a jewellery shop. According to sources, the accused have been identified as Inspector Suresh Kumar, in-charge of the Bapu Dham police post, and Assistant SubInspector (ASI) Bhagat Singh. The CBI reportedly laid a trap outside the police post in Sector 26 and arrested both officials red-handed. Suresh was promoted recently. The sources said a Bapu Dham resident, Surjit, had lodged a complaint with the CBI, alleging that the police post in-charge demanded Rs 5 lakh for registering an FIR in connection with a theft at his jewellery shop. The accused allegedly sought an initial instalment of Rs 2.5 lakh before registering the case. “A complaint was received alleging that Inspector Suresh Kumar, in charge of Bapu Dham police post, Sector 26, demanded Rs 5 lakh for registration of an FIR regarding theft at the complainant’s jewellery shop and insisted on payment of Rs 2.50 lakh as the first instalment before registration of the FIR,” said a source. The agency also obtained a call recording in which the accused allegedly asked the complainant to hand over the money outside the police post on Monday evening. “The CBI team apprehended ASI Bhagat Singh and Inspector Suresh Kumar red-handed and recovered Rs 2.5 lakh from them,” said the source. Previous incidents In April, the CBI arrested a head constable posted as the beat in-charge at the Sector 26 police station for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 6,000 from a vendor. The accused continued on page 3 c m y b Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 3 Nearly two decades after 23year-old Indian Army officer Capt Parmila lost her life in a road accident, the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s Daily Lok Adalat has recorded a settlement. Her parents have been allowed an additional Rs 42 lakh over and above the Rs 5.77 lakh awarded earlier by the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT). The settlement was recorded in an appeal filed by the officer’s parents, Vijay Kumar Toppo and Merry C Toppo, against the award passed by the MACT. Referring to the circumstances leading to the claim, the Bench of Justice (retd) JC Verma (president) and Justice Arvind Kumar (member) observed: “Capt Parmila, aged about 23 years, serving in Indian Army met with an accident on May 24, 2007, resulting into her death.” The order further recorded that the MACT had awarded compensation of over Rs 5.77 lakh, along with 9 per cent interest from the date of filing of the claim petition on August 2, 2007. “Aggrieved from the said award, this appeal has been filed,” the Bench observed. The appeal was subse- quently referred to the Lok Adalat for an amicable resolution. “The present appeal has been entrusted to this Forum for the purpose of settlement. After having discussed this case, the matter has been settled,” the Bench added. Recording the terms of settlement, the Bench observed: “As agreed, as per statement of learned counsel for the insurance company and the counsel for the appellants (separately recorded today) a sum of Rs 42,00,000... more, over and above, the amount awarded by the Tribunal is allowed to the appellants, in full and final settlement of the claim in this appeal.” The order further recorded that the enhanced amount would be paid to the appellants in equal shares, as per the statement of their counsel. Disposing of the appeal, the Lok Adalat directed the insurance company “to deposit a crossed-cheque in the sum of Rs 42,00,000 in the name of the appellants in equal share with the office of the Lok Adalat of the High Court on or before September 14, 2026”, failing which the amount would carry 9 per cent interest per annum from the date of the order till the cheque was deposited with the office of the Lok Adalat.