20042026-LT-01.qxd 4/19/2026 11:06 PM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune RIGHTS PANEL SEEKS REPORT ON STRAY DOGS FROM MC TRIBUTES PAID TO 4 VRINDAVAN VICTIMS IN JAGRAON People from all walks of life pay last respects to four members of a family who died in Vrindavan tragedy. P3 MAINLY CLEAR SKY MAX 39°C | MIN 19°C YESTERDAY MAX 39°C | MIN 21°C SADHVI CROWNED FEMINA MISS INDIA WORLD 2026 The Punjab State and Chandigarh Human Rights Commission has asked for a report on sterilisation of dogs. P2 FORECAST Sadhvi Satish Sail was crowned Femina Miss India World at the grand finale of the pageant held in Bhubaneswar. P4 » » SUNSET MONDAY 6.58 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:52 AM » MONDAY | 20 APRIL 2026 | LUDHIANA IPL betting racket: ~42.3 lakh frozen Delhifirmgets2components of ~165-cr road project in bank accounts of four accused Sukhpreet Singh HIGHER BIDS TRIGGER CONCERN Tribune News Service Police say kingpin is Khanna native who is suspected to be hiding in Dubai agencies like the Enforcement Directorate for investigation. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 19 The investigation of the Khanna police into the high profile IPL cricket betting racket led to an important development as the Khanna police have found Rs 42.3 lakh lying in the bank accounts of the four accused. This whopping amount is considered to be the collected from cricket betting and every transaction would now be subjected to scrutiny to check the flow of funds and account holders involved. The said amount has been frozen by the Khanna police. An international link of the betting racket has also been exposed as a native of Khanna, who is suspected to be hiding in Dubai, has been found to be the kingpin of this racket. Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia told The Tribune here on Sunday that on April 12, the Khanna police had busted a major online betting network operating on IPL matches and arrested four accused. The police had initially seized Rs 44,000, 11 mobile phones and a laptop. Section 112 of BNS added to the FIR The four betting racket accused in Khanna police custody. FILE PHOTO The accused were identified as Dinesh Chhabra, his brother Karan Chhabra, Mahinder Singh and Naresh Kumar. All are residents of Khanna and had been involved in this illegal business for a long time. Ahluwalia added that the main accused, Dinesh and Naresh, had previous cases registered against them under the Gambling Act. Other accused also have criminal histories. The investigation revealed that the accused used multiple bank accounts and digital channels to launder money. They defrauded people by luring them into placing bets on IPL matches through international apps. “As our team checked the bank accounts of the accused, Rs 42 lakh were found stashed in their accounts. The Khanna police immediately froze these bank accounts. Now, the police would also scan the bank accounts of family members or other known persons of the accused, which might have been used to stash more illegal money derived from the cricket betting racket,” revealed the SSP . The investigation revealed that the accused used multiple bank accounts and digital channels to launder money, the SSP said, adding that now the police would involve central In order to seek maximum punishment for the accused involved in illegal betting, the Khanna police have now added Section 112 of the BNS (whoever, being a member of a group or gang, either singly or jointly, commits any act of theft, snatching, cheating, unauthorised selling of tickets, unauthorised betting or gambling, selling of public examination question papers or any other similar criminal act, is said to commit petty organised crime). If found guilty, the accused could face up to seven years of jail. Usually, the police used to register such cases under fraud charge, but this is the first time that it has added this stringent section in the illegal betting case. Khanna SSP said that police had also booked Rajiv Kumar of Khanna in the illegal betting case as he had been operating the racket while living abroad. Ludhiana, April 19 After the shelving of similar world-class road projects in Amritsar and Mohali, Ludhiana’s ambitious world class road project has gained momentum, with a Delhibased firm emerging as the lowest bidder (L1) for two out of the three packages under the ~165-crore project. The project, being implemented by the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB), aims to redesign and upgrade key stretches of city roads into world-class corridors with modern infrastructure. The project, termed as a worldclass street project, aims to transform 15 km of road space across 10 key corridors into user-friendly urban streets. The plan includes the development of 5.3 km of footpaths, 15.7 km of dedicated cycle lanes and the plantation of 3,633 saplings. Key stretches identified under the project include the old GT Road from Sherpur Chowk to Jagraon Bridge, which is to be reconfigured for smoother traffic flow, and Ghumar Mandi Road from Fountain Chowk to Aarti Cinema, where pedestrian accessibility will be prioritised. Gill The higher-than-estimated bids have triggered concern at the top level. The Chief Secretary has sought a detailed justification for the increase of nearly 7% to 9% over the estimated costs. Officials said the issue was discussed during the committee meeting, where the bidder was asked to explain the escalation. Road and Model Town Road are also part of the redevelopment plan. In addition, the 200-Foot Road has been proposed as a major corridor to improve connectivity between Ferozepur Road and Malerkotla Road. As per official records of the meeting held on April 16, financial bids for package 1 and 3 have been finalised. For Package 1, estimated cost Rs 65.19 crore, VRC Constructions (India) Limited quoted Rs 71.38 crore. Similarly, for package 3, estimated at Rs 48.91 crore, the same firm quoted Rs 52.66 crore. With this, the Delhi-based company has secured two key components of the project, while the tendering process for the third package is nearing completion. However, the higher-thanestimated bids have triggered concern at the top level. The Chief Secretary has sought a detailed justification for the increase of nearly 7% to 9% over the estimated costs. Officials said the issue was discussed during the committee meeting, where the bidder was asked to explain the escalation. In its response, PIDB officials have attributed the increase to a rise in construction input costs, particularly bitumen, along with escalation in labour and material rates. The minutes of the meeting also reveal that VRC Constructions has been directed to submit a detailed written justification for quoting higher rates. A virtual meeting was also held with the firm to seek clarification. To ensure transparency and public participation, it has been decided that before starting full-scale construction, a trial layout or design prototype will be developed on-site by the MC. This will allow stakeholders and the people to visualise the proposed changes and offer feedback. Notice of motion to MC, Trust Accused creates mayhem in stolen car, on illegal commercial activities rams into six vehicles, hits two bikers Rajneesh Lakhanpal Legal Correspondent Ludhiana, April 19 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken cognisance of large-scale illegal commercial activities being carried out in a residential area of Kitchlu Nagar, Ludhiana. The matter was heard a day before by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry in a public interest litigation. Upon hearing the submissions, the high court ordered to issue notice of motion to the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, and Ludhiana Improvement Trust. The counsel for the said respondents accepted notice and sought time to file reply, which was granted. The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 21. The petition raises serious concerns regarding rampant and unchecked commercial activities being carried out on a stretch connecting Hambran Road to Ferozepur Road, which forms part of a residential zone under the approved layout plan of Kitchlu Nagar developed by the Ludhiana Improvement Trust. It has been highlighted that despite the area being a designated residential one, several premises have been converted into commercial establishments, including Dhami Eye Centre, Lyalpur Sweets and Mittal Nursing Home, among others. The issue had earlier been raised before the high court in a previous round of litigation, wherein the municipal corporation was directed to decide the representation submitted regarding these violations. Pursuant thereto, the municipal corporation had passed an order dated March 13, 2023, wherein it categorically acknowledged that several residents of Kitchlu Nagar were carrying out illegal commercial activities on their premises. Despite such findings by the authorities themselves, no effective remedial action has been taken, and the illegal activities continue unabated, causing traffic congestion, parking issues, environmental concerns and hardship to residents. The matter was argued by advocate, who highlighted both ongoing violations and the prior admission by the authorities concerned, prompting the high court to issue a notice. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 19 Panic gripped Shimlapuri area on Sunday morning when a reckless car thief, driving a stolen vehicle, unleashed terror on the streets while trying to escape the police. The incident occurred around 11:30 am and left residents shocked. CCTV footage of the act has also surfaced, showing the thief driving the car recklessly up and down a narrow street with complete disregard for safety. According to information, a car was reportedly stolen from Barota Road area a few days ago. On Sunday, the car owner informed the police after spotting his stolen vehicle in the Barota Road locality. The owner, along with a A motorcycle pushed under a tempo after being hit by the accused trying to flee, at Shimlapuri in Ludhiana on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO: HIMANSHU MAHAJAN police team, immediately began chasing the car. As soon as the accused realised he was surrounded by police and locals, he resorted to dangerous manoeuvres to save himself. He drove the car at high speed, while reversing and moving forward repeatedly in an attempt to flee. During the chase, he rammed into three motorcycles, three scooters and one auto-rickshaw, causing extensive dam- age to the vehicles. The situation escalated further when the accused hit two youths on a bike. Fortunately, they escaped with minor injuries. People present on the street panicked, with everyone running for safety. The CCTV video clearly shows that even after the police arrived, the accused showed no fear and continued trying to escape by reversing the car aggressively. Finally, his car collided with a bike parked outside a house, ending his escape attempt. Police personnel present at the spot immediately swung into action and nabbed the accused. The suspect has been identified as Love. A case has been registered against him at Shimlapuri police station and further investigation is underway. Ludhiana’s bibliophiles’ Silent Reading Party Suspecting illicit Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 19 There is a certain poetry in silence, the kind that settles over a room when readers gather with their favorite books, a steaming cup of coffee and perhaps a sweet snack from the counter. At Cake Square this Sunday, Ludhiana’s bibliophiles came together not to talk, but to read during the Silent Reading Party. It was as an oasis of calm, and participants got lost in the pages of their books while sharing the quiet company of others. Organised by Gurvir Singh and Ekjot Kaur of Kaaraj Collective, along with Mannat from Next Level IELTS Academy, the event was a celebration of stillness, stories and the simple joy of connecting Book lovers from the city at the Cake Square for the Silent Reading Party on Sunday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN through books. Today readers spent an hour immersed in their books before transitioning into lively exchanges, whether it was mingling with authors or discussing the book of the month. “The idea is simple, yet profound, to bring readers together and connect through silence and literature. In just nine months, the initiative has grown into a thriving community of nearly 700 readers, with 30-35 partic- ipants attending each session,” says Gurvir. The crowd is diverse, often including Hemant Gupta of AIPL City, Garima Aggarwal of The Sweet Life Patisserie, poetess and author Sukhman and artist Jasmine Sehdev. c m y b These gatherings have become a cherished ritual for Ludhiana’s literary enthusiasts, offering a refreshing alternative to screen time and a chance to meet people through books. The Silent Reading Party has been hosted at cozy venues such as Cake Square, Rue 18, Drawing Room Bistro and Costa Coffee, each providing a warm atmosphere, where readers bring their own books or explore the library. As organizer, Mannat, explains, “We wanted to create a space where silence speaks volumes and books become bridges between people.” Swastika, co-owner of Cake Square, adds, “Hosting the Silent Reading Party is a joy, it’s amazing to see readers connect over stories in such a unique way.” With discussions in both English and Punjabi, author meets and the ever-popular book of the month event, the Silent Reading Party continues to grow as a cultural movement. “It is not just about reading, it is about belonging to a community that values silence, stories and the connections they inspire,” adds one book lover before the silent party kickstarts. The Silent Reading Party is more than an event, it’s a movement to reclaim time from screens, celebrate literature and foster meaningful connections, says Ekjot Kaur, one of the organisers. With 30-35 participants at each gathering, the initiative continues to grow, proving that silence, when shared, can be profoundly powerful. affair, man kills wife at Machhiwara Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 19 A woman was killed by her husband in a village near Machhiwara on Sunday. The man took the extreme step as he suspected her wife to be having an illicit affair. The couple has two children. Sources said that the incident occurred at Mand Sukhewala village. The accused, Gurpreet Singh, had married Rajwinder Kaur after years of love affair. Gurpreet suspected that his wife had been talking to another person. Interestingly, the victim also suspected her husband to be having an illicit relationship. Due to this, the couple used to indulge in disputes frequently. Today also, the couple had a dispute over the issue and Gurpreet strangled his wife. The couple was alone at home when the dispute erupted. After committing the murder, the accused informed his friend about the same and also recorded a video in which he confessed to having committed the crime. After the police got to know about the murder, it reached the spot and shifted the body to the Civil Hospital. The accused is said to be on the run.