12042025-LT-01.qxd 4/12/2025 12:27 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STATE’S OLDEST CHRIST CHURCH CAUGHT IN LEGAL BATTLE A court case is currently underway regarding the heritage property located in a prime area of city. P3 » ACTOR SUNNY DEOL IS NOW EYEING OTT SPACE FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 37°C | MIN 22°C YESTERDAY MAX 40°C | MIN 23°C ‘HAPPY FORMULA IS NOT WORKING’ Sunny Deol, who plays the lead in the his latest movie Jaat, is now eyeing the OTT space. P4 SUNSET SATURDAY 6.46 PM Renowned director and writer Imtiaz Ali said, “The way to finding out the code is by finding what I would like.” P4 » SUNRISE SUNDAY 6:00 AM » SATURDAY | 12 APRIL 2025 | LUDHIANA No permission granted by MC to SAD ready for Ludhiana West bypoll Will announce candidates’s name soon after election of state president Kumaria to use badminton hall Manav Mander Tribune News Service SIT formed by DC probing alleged misuse of multi-crore facility Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 11 The ongoing investigation into the alleged possession of the Municipal Corporation’s multi-crore facility, ‘Shashtri Badminton Hall’, by the Ludhiana Badminton Academy has seen a significant development. As per information, the MC have intimidated the special investigation team (SIT), formed by the DC, in writing that Ludhiana Badminton Association secretary Anupam Kumaria was never granted permission to run his private academy, organise tournaments or operate the Ludhiana Badminton Association at the Shastri Badminton Hall. The development may bring trouble for Kumaria who has been managing the affairs of the academy for the past over a decade. Sources also suggested that the authorities are likely to register a case and issue a recovery notice to Kumaria for unauthorised use of the public property. It could lead to serious legal consequences as the investigation progresses. Talking to The Tribune, SDM Jasleen Kaur Bhullar, A match in progress at Shashtri Badminton Hall in Ludhiana. FILE CASE LIKELY TO BE FILED, SAY SOURCES Sources suggested that the authorities are likely to register a case and issue a recovery notice to Ludhiana Badminton Association secretary Anupam Kumaria for unauthorised use of the public property. It could lead to serious legal consequences as the investigation progresses. when asked if the SIT inquired about any permission given to the academy to use the MC’s facilities for running the affairs of the body, stated: “The SIT had sent a letter to the corporation to seek a copy of the permission for using the badminton hall, if any given to the academy being managed by Kumaria and we have got a written reply from the MC in which it cleared that no permission was granted to use the hall to Kumaria or anyone.” Meanwhile, the SDM, when asked about the expected time of submitting a report to Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain, said the other party (Kumaria’s side) has sought time to file a reply and documents. The inquiry would be finalised once all documents were received and scrutinised. Notably, the complainant, national badminton player and coach Anand Tiwari, in his complaint has alleged that Ludhiana’s prestigious Shastri Badminton Hall, a govern- CM to hold talks with farmers at ‘Sarkar-Kisan Milni’ today Ludhiana, April 11 Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will have a direct dialogue with farmers of the state during the ‘Sarkar-Kisan Milni’ slated to take place at Punjab Agriculture University, here, on April 12 to save the precious groundwater of the state by promotion of less water guzzling varieties of paddy. The Kisan Milni will be held at the PAU on Saturday in which over 1,100 farmers are likely to take part. Several stalls will be installed during the event to make the farmers aware about initiatives being taken by the state govern- ment. The special SarkarKisan Milni will focus on making the farmers aware of cultivation of paddy before the starting of the paddy season. During the milni, the farmers will be apprised of innovative and less water guzzling techniques of paddy transplant and the focus will be on motivating the farmers to use only high-yielding varieties of paddy approved by the PAU. The farmers will also be informed that to avoid complications to the farmers in selling their paddy harvest due to high moisture content in October, the state government has decid- ed to advance the paddy cultivation season from June 1. For this, zon1e-wise cultivation of the paddy crop will be ensured in the state and necessary planning and arrangements are already being made by the government. The state has been divided into zones to implement the sowing mechanism in an effective manner and dates of paddy cultivation in a phased manner will be announced soon so that farmers can take benefit from it. The government will rope in renowned agriculture experts to benefit the growers during the milni. — TNS ment-owned multi crore property facility, was being illegally controlled and misused by unauthorised Ludhiana Badminton Association and secretary of the Ludhiana Badminton Academy Anupam Kumaria for the past 15 years. He has also been running the unauthorised academy registered at his residence without government approval. He was operating his personal academy at the hall. Entry fees, donations and sponsorship money had been collected in cash, siphoning millions from innocent players and their families. Despite claims of offering free coaching, bank records suggest that parents have paid in lakhs in the name of donations. The previous financial year bank account statement of the academy available with The Tribune belied the claims of academy secretary Kumaria as the bank statement shows that the academy received over Rs 10 lakh in donations via cheque or cash. Kumaria had already denied the allegations and claimed that he would submit all evidences and would come out clean. Two arrested with heroin Ludhiana, April 11 The special cell of the Ludhiana police claimed to have nabbed two persons and seized 50 gm of heroin from them. They were identified as Partap Singh Channi and Ajaypal of Kot Mangal Singh. A case has been registered. ADCP Amandeep Singh Brar said special cell in-charge inspector Navdeep Singh, along with a police team, was conducting a patrolling at Kot Mangal Singh on April 10 to keep a tab over smuggling activities. On suspicion, two bike-borne persons were frisked by the police, which led to the recovery of heroin. Brar said both of them had a criminal past. — TNS Top cop conducts surprise inspection at police station, presses for public welfare Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, April 11 Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma on Friday conducted a surprise inspection at the Sarabha Nagar police station and the cyber cell to ensure strict adherence to duty protocols and enhance public welfare. During the visit, he meticulously reviewed key areas, including the outreach centre, lock-ups, help desk, complaint cell, wireless room, munshi room, CCTNS room, district forensic lab, kitchen, SHO office and toilets. He observed improperly parked two-wheelers and cluttered storage areas, directing immediate action for their proper management and disposal. He also examined personnel records, issuing instructions to streamline processes and improve efficiency. Emphasising public com- CP Swapan Sharma interacts with cops at the Sarabha Nagar police station in Ludhiana on Friday. fort, the CP instructed officials to ensure adequate seating, clean restrooms and accessible drinking water for visitors. He stressed the importance of addressing grievances from elderly individuals and women with utmost sensitivity and promptness. Explaining the purpose of his surprise checks, Sharma said: “I am visiting police stations personally to assess operations, address shortcomings and strengthen our commitment to public service. Our priorities include intensifying efforts against drugs and gang activity to ensure a safer Punjab” He underscored the Punjab Police’s focus on improving grassroots policing and fostering stronger community ties. He affirmed that such inspections would continue to uphold high standards of law enforcement and public welfare across the city. c m y b Ludhiana, April 11 Ludhiana’s West constituency is abuzz with political activities these days as the byelections are scheduled for the segment. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have announced the names of their candidates, the BJP and SAD are yet to announce the names. The SAD will announce the name in coming days after the election of its state president. The bypoll ticket will be announced only after the new president is elected. Two 2022 ASSEMBLY POLL RESULTS OF LUDHIANA WEST Party AAP INC BJP SAD Candidate Gurpreet Gogi Bharat Bhushan Ashu Bikram S Sidhu Maheshinder Singh Grewal names that are making rounds is Hiteshinder Singh Grewal and Parupkar Singh Ghuman. Former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon said the SAD was all geared up for the coming bypoll in the Ludhiana West constituency. “The name will be finalised in a few days,” he said. He said the state needs people Votes polled 40,443 32,931 28,107 10,072 from the region to govern it. “People got carried away by tall promises made by Bhagwant Mann but now, his reality has exposed. Only a person belonging to Punjab can understand issues and challenges faced by its people while the present AAP government is actually run by people from Two of robbers’ gang nabbed Ludhiana, April 11 The Dakha police claimed to have busted a gang of robbers and nabbed two of its members. The suspects were identified as Sukhman Singh, alias Sukhu, and Jaspreet Singh, alias Jassa. One of the suspects, Sagar, was yet to be arrested. Sagar and Jaspreet had a criminal history as they are facing three and two cases, respectively, registered against them in the past. DSP, Dakha, Varinder Singh Khosa, in a statement issued said on April 8, Kamaljit Kumar, a resident of Phillaur, was cornered by the suspects on Ferozepur-GT Road. Before he could understand anything, they started beating him up. Later, they took away Rs 4,500 in cash, a mobile and a scooter from him. Khosa said after receiving a complaint, the Dakha police reg- istered a case against unidentified persons on April 10. Following which, the SHO, Dakha, inspector Amritpal Singh, started a probe and managed to identify the suspects. On Friday, acting on a tip-off, the police conducted a raid and nabbed two of them. The police seized a scooter, a sharp weapon and a mobile phone from the miscreants. The DSP said after obtaining police remand of the suspects, they would be questioned and their role in past loot incidents would be probed. — TNS outside the state,” he said. People should compare the current government’s performance with the tenure of the Parkash Badal-led SAD government, which was marked by rapid development and welfare initiatives, he said. Another senior party leader said first Congress and now, the AAP both , parties have ruined the state. “Look at the development made under the regime of the SAD government and the present state where the government is forced to inaugurate multiple works, including bathrooms, in a single school itself,” he said. Cop trying to nab wanted suspect attacked, 3 held Ludhiana, April 11 A policeman went to nab a suspect wanted in a criminal case attacked by the latter and his family members at Bonkar Gujran village. Pritam Singh, Amarjit Singh and Gurpreet Singh, were arrested while Lovely, Jasveer Kaur, Mano, Karamvir, Sarabjit Singh, Hoshiar, Paramjit Singh, Bhuljit Singh and Jaswant Singh, all residents of Bonkar Gujran. continued on page 2