15052024-TTC-01.qxd 5/15/2024 12:50 AM Page 1 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 8 NO. 134 | 14 PAGES | ~5.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881 IN SURPRISE VISIT TO KYIV, BLINKEN VOWS SUPPORT TO ZELENSKYY WORLD /thetribunechd BRO BREAKS THROUGH SUNGAL TUNNEL ALONG JAMMU-POONCH NH J&K wednesday | 15 may 2024 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com 14 PSU officials trapped in mine as lift collapses Namonation PM Narendra Modi prays at Dashashwamedh Ghat before filing his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi on Tuesday. ANI ~3 CR ASSETS AT 1.26%, INFLATION RAJNATH: WORK ON 3RD RISES TO 13-MONTH AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO HIGH IN APRIL BUSINESS START SOON BACK PAGE PM Modi possesses assets amounting to a little over ~3 cr, most of it in bank fixed deposits, as per his poll affidavit The filing of nomination attended by top NDA leaders, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Chandrababu Naidu and several CMs Jaipur, May14 Fourteen officials and members of a vigilance team of PSU Hindustan Copper Limited were trapped in a mine in Rajasthan’s Neem ka Thana district on Tuesday night when a vertical shaft used for transportation of personnel collapsed, the police said. Praveen Nayak, SP said a , rescue team had reached the trapped personnel and some of them could be injured. Efforts were on to bring out the personnel, stuck at a depth of several hundred metres at the Kolihan mine, the police said. According to preliminary information, the incident occurred when the vigilance team along with senior officials of the state-owned company went inside the mine for an inspection. When they were about to come up, a rope of the shaft or ‘cage’ broke due to which around 14 persons were stuck, the police said. — PTI Retired Indian Colonel on UN duty killed near Rafah Tribune News Service TOOK PREMATURE RETIREMENT IN 2022 NewDelhi, May14 In the first death of an Indian on UN duty in Gaza, which has not been mourned by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Col Waibhav Anil Kale (retd) died after his vehicle came under fire in Rafah on Monday morning. Col Kale (46) took premature retirement from the Army in 2022 after serving with the 11 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles. He is survived by his Pune-based wife and two teenaged children. The Permanent Mission of India to the UN, however, condoled his death. In a post on X, it said: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of Col Waibhav Kale, working for the UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) in Gaza. Our deepest condolences are with the family during this difficult time.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply saddened” by the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles ■ He joined the UN Department ■ Col Waibhav Anil Kale (46) took premature retirement in 2022 after serving with the 11 death of the officer who joined the UN DSS as a Security Coordination Officer barely two months ago. His vehicle was attacked on Monday while he was travelling to the European Hospital in Rafah from Gaza, said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General. Another DSS staffer was injured in the incident. The Israel Defence Forces, which is undertaking active operations in the area, is investigating the incident. Though United Nations Secretary-General condoled the death, the official X han- AAP to be made co-accused in excise policy scam, ED tells Delhi High Court Can’t sue lawyers for Verdict reserved on Sisodia’s bail pleas in money laundering, corruption cases Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 14 A month after the Delhi High Court ruled that political parties can be prosecuted for money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday said it would make the Aam Aadmi Party an accused in one such case linked to the Delhi excise policy scam. “AAP is going to be made a co-accused in the next prosecution complaint (chargesheet) to be filed in the case,” the ED counsel told IN BRIEF Toll in Mumbai hoarding tragedy mounts to 14 MUMBAI: The toll in the hoarding collapse in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar has risen to 14 while 74 persons are injured, officials said on Tuesday. The 100-foot-tall illegal billboard fell on a petrol pump during duststorms and unseasonal rain that lashed the Maharashtra capital on Monday. BACK PAGE Centre extends ban on LTTE by five years NEW DELHI: The Centre on Tuesday extended the ban on the LTTE by five more years for fostering a separatist tendency among the masses and enhancing the support for it in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, besides threatening the country’s territorial integrity. PTI Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, opposing the bail plea of senior AAP leader and former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Justice Sharma reserved her verdict on Sisodia’s bail pleas in money laundering and corruption cases registered by the ED and the CBI, respectively. Interestingly, Justice Sharma had last month ruled that a political party can be prosecuted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Dismissing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s petition ❝ AAP is going to be made a co-accused in next prosecution complaint (chargesheet) to be filed in the case. ED counsel KAVITHA’S CUSTODY EXTENDED TILL MAY 20 ■ A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of BRS leader K Kavitha, arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged Delhi excise policy scam, till May 20 challenging his arrest by the ED, Justice Sharma had, on April 9, held that the definition of “political party” under the Representation of Peoples Act and the definition of “company” under the PMLA were identical. After examining the two definitions, Justice Sharma had said, “This court is of the opinion that the definition of ‘political party’ as per Section 2(f) of the Representation of Peoples Act is AAP admits Kejri aide ‘assaulted’ Maliwal, says will face strict action Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 14 The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) today broke its silence over the alleged assault on Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal by Bibhav Kumar, a “close aide” of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh condemned yesterday’s incident at the Delhi CM’s residence and said Kejriwal had taken congnisance of the matter and called for strict action. HAD GONE TO MEET CM ■ Swati Maliwal had gone to Kejri- wal’s residence to meet him ■ Was waiting when CM’s aide Bibhav ‘misbehaved’ with her Yesterday, the Delhi Police received a call from the CM’s residence regarding the “assault” by Bibhav. The police confirmed that the call was made by Maliwal. However, when the police team reached the spot, she had left the premises. Deputy Commissioner of Police, North District, Manoj Kumar Meena had yesterday said Maliwal reached the Civil Lines police station but did not submit an official complaint. “At 9.34 am (on Monday), we received a call... the caller said she had been assaulted at the CM’s residence. After continued on page 10 that a political party means an ‘association or body of individuals’. As per Explanation1 of Section 70 of the PMLA, a ‘company’ also means an ‘association of individuals’.” The HC had upheld Kejriwal’s arrest as he was the national convener of AAP that allegedly used proceeds of the crime in the 2022 Goa Assembly elections. On Tuesday, the CBI adopted the submissions made by the ED counsel who alleged that accused were making concerted efforts to delay the continued on page 10 ‘Trial could take years’: SC grants bail to Navlakha Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 14 Having spent over four years in judicial custody, Bhima Koregaon violence case accused Gautam Navlakha will be out on bail as the Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to extend the stay on the Bombay High Court’s order granting him bail. “We are inclined not to extend the stay as the high court order is detailed in granting bail. Trial would take years and years and continued on page 10 Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 14 Holding that legal services rendered by lawyers do not fall under the ambit of the Consumer Protection Act, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that litigants cannot sue lawyers for “deficiency in service” to claim compensation. “The legal profession is sui generis (unique in nature) and cannot be compared with any other profession. A service hired or availed of an advocate is a service under ‘a contract of personal service’, and therefore will fall within the exclusionary part of the definition of “service” contained in Section 2 (42) of the CP Act, 2019,” a Bench led by Justice Bela M Trivedi said, terming the advocates’ responsibility “onerous”. The Bench said an advocate was the only link between the court and the client and was expected to follow his client’s instructions rather than substitute his (client’s) judgment. “A complaint alleging ‘deficiency in service’ against advocates practising legal profession will not be maintainable under the CP Act,” it said, overruling a 1995 verdict of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) which held that lawyers were covered under the Act. The NOT UNDER AMBIT OF CONSUMER ACT ❝ A complaint alleging deficiency in service against advocates practising legal profession will not be maintainable under the Consumer Protection Act. — SC Bench NCDRC order was stayed by the Supreme Court in 2009. The Bench, however, clarified that lawyers can be sued in courts for negligence and misconduct. “Undoubtedly, no professional — legal, medical or any other — enjoys any immunity from being sued or from being held liable for his professional or otherwise misconduct or other misdeeds causing legal, monetary or other injuries to his clients or the persons hiring or availing of his services. The fact that professionals are governed by their respective councils such as Bar councils or medical councils also will not absolve them of their civil or criminal liability arising out of their professional misconduct or continued on page 10 dles of Jaishankar and the Ministry of External Affairs were silent on the issue. Of the 12 posts on Jaishankar’s official X handle till 7 pm on Tuesday, eight were about PM Narendra Modi’s nomination in Varanasi and one on his own speaking engagement in Kerala. Of the three posts on foreign affairs, one was to congratulate Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of Israel’s Independence. The other two were to wish his Paraguayan counterpart and inform about Indian relief supplies to Kenya. US warns of sanctions after India-Iran deal on Chabahar Sandeep Dikshit Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 14 The US has warned of potential sanctions on any country considering business deals with Iran, hours after India signed a 10-year contract to operate the Chabahar port in that country. The US appears to have overlooked its decision formally conveyed to India twice, in 2018 and 2019, that the modernisation of Chabahar port will be exempt from sanctions because it served as an important gateway for India to send humanitarian supplies to Afghanistan. “Any entity, anyone considering business deals with Iran — they need to be aware of the potential risks that they are opening themselves up to and the potential risk of sanctions,” said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel at a media briefing. He was asked to respond to the 10-year contract signed between two Indian and Iranian PSUs to run the Chabahar port. A letter by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar carried to Tehran by visiting Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal promises a $250 million line of credit in addition to the $120 continued on page 10 edit: India-Iran deal Chandigarh pageant to Mandi aspirant, Kangana stars in new role Are banned goods off market, SC asks Ramdev NEW DELHI: The SC has asked Patanjali Ayurved whether the sale of its 14 products, whose manufacturing licences were suspended by Uttarakhand, have stopped. It reserved order on the contempt notice issued to yoga guru Ramdev. PTI Aditi Tandon & Dipender Manta Tribune News Service ~16-cr EC booster for rain-hit Punjab farmers CHANDIGARH: With the non-pay- ment of relief to farmers for crop loss due to rain in March becoming a major issue in Bathinda and Sangrur LS constituencies, the EC on Tuesday gave nod for payment of ~16-crore relief to the affected farmers. INSIDE ACTION IN NEXT PROSECUTION COMPLAINT service deficiency: SC of Safety and Security (DSS) in Gaza as a Security Coordination Officer 2 months ago ■ He and another DSS staffer were travelling to the European Hospital in Rafah from Gaza when their vehicle came under fire on Monday BJP LS candidate Kangana Ranaut files her nomination in Mandi. ANI New Delhi/Mandi, May 14 From a chance modelling break in Chandigarh to creating a niche in the Mumbai film industry to now making a foray into national politics, Kangana Ranaut’s rise has been phenomenal. It was by sheer stroke of luck that a young Kangana, then a college student in Chandigarh, met UT-based grooming master Sunil Bansal in December 2003. “It was December 6, 2003. I was sitting outside on a bench in Sector 17, below my office compound. I spotted Kangana in denims. I stopped her and asked her to participate in my pageant. First she said she was not a girl who wanted to model but the next day she came and filled the form. The rest is history,” Bansal told The Tribune as Kangana filed her nominations as the BJP’s Lok Sabha nominee from Mandi. Bansal had in those years started a beauty pageant, “Face of the Year”, to provide a platform to girls who want- ‘QUEEN’ FILES PAPERS; NET WORTH ~91.65 CR With assets worth ~91.65 crore, including two Mercedes and a BMW in her fleet of swanky vehicles, BJP’s Mandi LS candidate in poll affidavit mentions Class XII as her educational qualification. GUTSY WOMAN, RECALLS MENTOR Kangana as a ❝ I remember left Supermodelgutsy woman who had Gladrags contest in Mumbai midway alleging bias. — Sunil Bansal, CHANDIGARH-BASED GROOMING GURU ed to model but were either short in height or were averse to a show of skin. Ranaut was the runner-up of this pageant in 2003 and c m y b made headlines that year for a smart reply to a question she was asked by the jury, which included actor Raja Bundela. “They asked Kan- gana how she would distinguish between a diamond and a woman. Her reply was — naari naari hoti hai, heera heera hota hai (woman is a woman and diamond is a diamond),” he recalls. Although Kangana, who earlier studied at DAV Public School, Sector 15, did not win her first pageant, she landed her first modelling assignment as the brand ambassador for Ayur Herbal. “Ayur Herbal was my pageant title sponsor in 2003 and we decided to sign Kangana for the promotion of its new cream. She did magazine and then TV commercials,” remembers Bansal who made Kangana’s first portfolio and was responsible for her first modelling and later advertising break. He remembers Kangana as a “gutsy woman who had left the Supermodel Gladrags contest in Mumbai midway alleging bias.” Kangana returned midway from the Gladrags contest in 2004 and decided to shift to Bombay. By 2005, she had met Anurag Basu and landed her first Bollywood continued on page 10
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