02062025-LT-01.qxd 02-06-2025 00:41 Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune STRICT CURBS IN PLACE TO CHECK FLOW OF LIQUOR SAI TRAINING CENTRE TAKES OUT CYCLE RALLY DOSANJH STRIKES A PLAYFUL YET CONFIDENT POSE DEO Himanshu Jain has directed Static Surveillance Teams to conduct thorough vehicle inspections. P2 SAI Training Centre organised a cycle rally to mark World Bicycle Day, which falls on June 3. P2 Diljit Dosanjh on Sunday unveiled the official motion poster for his upcoming film Sardaar Ji 3. P4 » » FORECAST PARTLY CLOUDY MAX 39°C | MIN 29°C YESTERDAY MAX 38°C | MIN 30°C SUNSET MONDAY 7.20 PM SUNRISE TUESDAY 5:21 AM » MONDAY | 2 JUNE 2025 | LUDHIANA After months’ long probe, FIR filed for misusing Shastri Badminton Hall Members of association, academy booked on recommendation of SIT Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 1 Finally, after months’ long investigation initiated on the directions of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Himanshu Jain, on the recommendation of the special investigation team (SIT) formed by the DC, a case of fraud and criminal conspiracy was registered against members of the Ludhiana Badminton Association and Ludhiana Badminton Academy. The names of the suspects would be added to the further probe. SIT members include SDM (East) Jasleen Kaur Bhullar and Paramdeep Singh Khaira, Additional Commissioner, MC, Ludhiana. Notably, the complainant, a national badminton player and coach, Anand Tiwari, in his complaint has alleged that Ludhiana’s prestigious Shastri Badminton Hall, a government-owned multi-crore facility, was being illegally controlled and misused by the unauthorised Ludhiana Badminton Association and secretary of the Ludhiana The Shastri Badminton Hall in Ludhiana. FILE Badminton Academy Anupam Kumaria for the past 15 years. Kumaria had also been running the unauthorised academy registered at his residence without government approval and he was operating his personal academy at Shastri 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 names of donations. As per the FIR (the Copy of which is with The Tribune) registered on the complaint of Tiwari, the SIT investigation has revealed several significant inconsistencies and a lack of transparency regarding the governance and operation of the association and academy and their relationship with Shastri Badminton Hall. Key findings include the absence of any formal lease agreement between the Municipal Corporation and the association or academy. Furthermore, discrepancies exist between the association’s letterhead and its registration details with the GM, District Industries Centre, including differing addresses and governing body members. While the academy claims to provide free coaching, the complainant submitted fee receipts indicating payments collected from players, presenting a contradictory picture. However, without established terms and conditions from the corporation, the allegation regarding improper fee collection by the academy or association could not be definitively ascertained. SIT also found that the association lacks proper governance structures (constitution, bank account, balance sheets, auditors, elections, executive meetings) and functions as a closed group, avoiding scrutiny. Entry fees, donations and sponsorship money have allegedly been siphoned off from innocent players and families. In support of his complaint, the complainant even attached details of entry fees and circulars issued by the academy for the Masters State Championship and the U-19 State Championship, complaints from players regarding monthly maintenance charges and fee receipts issued by the academy. The SIT investigation reveals that based on the findings, the committee recommends the following actions, including given the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana’s jurisdiction over Shastri Badminton Hall, it is recommended that the corporation be directed to establish comprehensive rules and regulations for the facility’s management, prioritising the interests of players. Any transfer of control to an academy or association must be governed by clearly defined terms and conditions to ensure accountability. The corporation should be directed to finalise all related formalities within three months. EOW to carry out further probe The complaint, along with supporting documents and the response submitted, should be transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of the Punjab Police for a detailed probe into the alleged financial irregularities and misuse of funds. SAD candidate’s posters blackened Minor girl raped, neighbour booked Nikhil Bhardwaj Ludhiana, June 1 A shocking incident of sexual assault has been reported from the city, where a 17-yearold girl, a student of a cooking institute, was allegedly raped by her neighbour. The suspect, Jawraj Singh, took advantage of the girl’s innocence and trust. According to the complaint filed by the girl’s father, his daughter was on her way to home from the institute on May 30 when Jawraj offered her a lift on his motorcycle. He took her to a hotel and committed the heinous crime. Later, the suspect left her near Jamalpur Chowk and fled. The police on Saturday registered a case against Jawraj. ASI Anil Kumar of the Moti Nagar police station said the suspect would be arrested soon as raids were already being conducted at his suspected whereabouts. — TNS Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 1 Posters of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll Parupkar Singh Ghuman were found torn and blackened. Ghuman files plaint with EC At many places such as Malhar Road, Ghumar Mandi and Civil Lines, some miscreants blackened the posters by spraying black colour on them. There is a lot of anger among SAD workers due to the same. A complaint has also been sent to the Election Commission by the candidate to seek immediate and strict action against miscreants. Ghuman said he came to know that workers of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could be behind the cheap act. A com- Blackened posters of SAD candidate Parupkar Ghuman in Ludhiana on Sunday. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN plaint was also made to the returning officer in this regard. “Our posters were put up only at those places where people had no objections. It seemed that the AAP government has panicked even before the elections,” he said. Ghuman said ruling leaders were already disturbed due to the wave of the SAD in the West segment and by damaging the posters, the ruling party candidate would not get any benefit. “People are already fed up with the ruling goverment, which have failed to fulfil its promises. I am also exposing the government in my poll campaign and have also promised the people of the constituency that on becoming the MLA, I will carry out a series of development works and the people will not repent after voting for me in the bypoll,” he said. Total Covid cases reach six in district, testing increased Manav Mander Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 1 The number of Covid cases in the district are increasing and the total number of positive cases till now have reached six, of these one person lost his life while admitted to a hospital in Chandigarh. The death of the Ludhiana resident due to Covid has put the Health Department on alert. As a result, testing of suspected patients has been increased. Two of the family members of the deceased have also tested positive. On Saturday, a businessman from Khanna also contracted the virus. However, he did not have any travel history. Positive cases so far also include two children. District Epidemiologist Sheetal Narang said anyone having Covid-like symptoms should get themselves tested and isolate themselves to curtail the spread of the disease. On an average, 500 samples are tested every month. Cases even with slightest symptoms are sent for testing and those with travel history are the first ones to be tested. “The testing of family members of the positive patients will be done and hospitals where they were getting treatment will also be tested. All have been asked to isolate themselves,” she said. Dr Narang while talking about symptoms of Covid said these include sore throat, fever, running or blocked nose, dry cough, headache, fatigue, loss of taste or smell and exhaustion. “Individuals with underlying medical conditions, known as comorbidities, should be particularly cautious about the virus. Severe symptoms are more likely to occur in older patients and those with conditions such as diabetes, cancer, obesity and chronic kidney disease. Other factors include heart conditions, chronic lung diseases and certain disabilities,” she added. Civil Surgeon Ramandeep Kaur said: “We have been closely monitoring the situation. Everyone should be vigilant but there was no cause to worry. We are regularly screening cases of influenzalike illness (ILI), severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and cases with co-morbidities. Besides, all SARI cases and 5 per cent of ILI cases are referred for RT-PCR testing at designated facilities. Testing has been mandatory for children of high-risk groups, the elderly and pregnant women, if symptoms are observed. Another setback for AAP as senior leader Karwal, others join Cong Ludhiana, June 1 In yet another setback to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Ludhiana, Kamaljit Singh Karwal joined the Congress along with two other former councillors, Gurpreet Singh Gopi and Ranjit Singh Ubbi, ahead of the Ludhiana West bypoll, slated to be held on June 19. Earlier on Friday, Satnam Singh Sunny Master, a sitting councillor from Ward 58, which falls in the Ludhiana West Assembly segment, along with Karan Warring, a senior BJP leader, and Paramvir Singh, nephew of the late MLA Gurpreet Gogi, also joined the Congress. Karwal, who was once close to Simarjit Singh Bains and had stronghold in the Atam Nagar and Ludhiana South constituencies, used to decide the fate of the candidates. Karwal has also been associated with parties such as SAD, BJP and Congress in the past. They were inducted into the party at a function presided over by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi and attended by former ministers Rana Gurjeet Singh, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who is the party candidate from Ludhiana West, Sunder Sham Arora, Kamaljit Karwal with Cong leaders in Ludhiana. HIMANSHU MAHAJAN former MP Mohammad Sadiq, former MLA Ramanjit Singh SIkki, Parminder Pinky, Kaka Lohgarh, Dr Raj Kumar Verka, Madan Lal Jalalpur and others. Welcoming them into the party, Channi said: “The writing was on the wall as the exodus of leaders and workers from the ruling AAP had started and its exit was imminent. He pointed out that normally during byelections, it is people from opposition parties who join the ruling party. “But here a reverse trend is happening as the people have realised that AAP was on the way out and the Congress was on a comeback trail,” he remarked. Rana Gurjeet, who is the chairman of the Congress Campaign Committee for the Ludhiana West byelection, said: “Coming events cast their shad- ow before,” while referring to senior AAP leaders leaving the party and joining the Congress. He said many more people would join it in coming day. Karwal said it was a homecoming for him. He said he had seen it personally in other parties that there was no better party than the Congress, which could provide a honest and efficient people-friendly government to the people of the state. Moreover, he said, he had seen Ashu’s work for the past three decades since he became the councillor for the first time. “If you don’t support Ashu, you will be doing great injustice not only to him but to Ludhiana also,” he said, adding Ludhiana needs dynamic leaders such as Ashu, and not anyone else. — TNS AAP govt failed on all fronts: Chugh Minister Dhaliwal slams BJP leader, Miscreants fire shots Campaigns for BJP candidate Jiwan Gupta in city accuses his party of hyprocrisy Tribune News Service Tribune News Service Ludhiana, June 1 BJP national general Secretary Tarun Chugh on Sunday met Jiwan Gupta, party candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana West bypoll, and gave a call to voters to expose actions of the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government. Speaking to mediapersons, Chugh alleged that the AAP government had completely failed on all fronts. “I want to ask Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann that May 31 was the last day for wiping out drug menace from the state under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ drive. Still, people are dying of drugs. It was a fake campaign and we will expose ineffectiveness of the state government,” he said. Chugh said the upcoming bypoll was a litmus test for the state, which was cur- Ludhiana, June 1 Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a scathing attack on BJP National general secretary Tarun Chugh, accusing the BJP of hypocrisy and complicity in the state’s drug menace. Responding to Chugh’s remarks and those of BJP spokesperson Joshi, Dhaliwal stated that drugs and ‘gangsterism’ proliferated in Punjab during the the BJP-SAD regime. “Everyone knows the era of drugs in the state began under the SAD-BJP government. What was BJP’s stance when drugs started flooding Punjab? Why didn’t BJP leaders speak up then,” Dhaliwal questioned. The minister pointed out that senior Akali leaders, who were BJP allies, faced accusations of drug smuggling nut BJP leader Tarun Chugh with Jiwan Gupta in Ludhiana. INDERJEET VERMA rently suffering under AAP’s chaotic and directionless governance. “Punjab is facing a grave law and order crisis and due to complete financial mismanagement, the state is reeling under a debt of over Rs 4 lakh crore,” he said. He said the city was now battling lack of basic infrastructure, a surge in organised crime and rampant drug abuse. Investors are fleeing to other states while the youth of the state feel betrayed by AAP’s empty promises of jobs and prosperity. Chugh hit out at Mann, calling him a puppet in the hands of Arvind Kejriwal and his failed on-bail associates. “Just like the people of Delhi rejected Kejriwal, residents of Punjab will do the same with Mann in 2027,” he said. c m y b Asks Chugh what your party did for youth as drug trade flourished under SAD-BJP rule the BJP chose to remain silent. He asked: “Chugh, how do you defend your party’s silence when a prominent SAD leader was jailed for smuggling? Why didn’t the BJP act against its ally’s involvement in such crimes?” Dhaliwal also criticised Capt Amarinder Singh, now a BJP leader, for failing to fulfil his 2017 promise of eradicating drugs in the state. Highlighting the AAP government’s accomplishments, Dhaliwal said: “Under the ‘ Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign launched on March 1, our government has arrested over 14,500 smugglers, registered 8,600 FIRs, and seized 594 kg of heroin. We have demolished drug smugglers’ illegal properties and put them behind bars. The campaign has become a mass movement, with people across villages, towns and cities taking oaths to fight drugs. ”Dhaliwal accused the BJP of being anti-Punjab, highlighting the party’s attempts to usurp state’s resources. He cited examples such as the deployment of the CISF at Nangal Dam, which he called an attempt to seize Punjab’s water resources and the withholding of funds by the Central Government. “The BJP wants to weaken the state, steal our water and deny us our rightful funds. Chugh must answer, is he standing with the state or with the BJP and its Haryana and central units, which are trying to rob Punjab of its rights,” he said. at realtor’s house Ludhiana, June 1 A shocking incident of gunfire has been reported from Bagga Kalan here in which unidentified individuals fired shots at the residence of a property dealer. The Ludhiana police on Saturday registered a case against unidentified miscreants based on a complaint filed by Bhagwant Singh, a resident of the area. According to the complaint, the man was asleep in his home when he heard the sound of gunfire outside around midnight on May 29. Without taking any risk, Bhagwant checked the CCTV camera footage and found that some unidentified persons on motorcycles had come outside his house and fired shots at the gate. One of the bullets hit his car parked outside the house. The police were informed about the incident following which, a team, led by ASI Major Singh, reached the place. The police recovered an empty cartridge from the scene, which has been taken into possession for further examination. The CCTV footage has captured the entire incident and the police are reviewing it to identify the culprits. The police have so far registered a case against the suspects based on Bhagwant’s complaint and are working to know the motive behind the firing. Police officials said the investigation was on and the police were taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of the victim and his family. The police were also trying to identify the suspects. Sources said the complainant had denied getting any threatening call. His call details were also being checked by the police. — TNS