30042026-CT-01.qxd 4/30/2026 12:59 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune DADUMAJRA CLEARING: AGENCIES NOT TO CLAIM BALANCE FOR DELAY PLAYERS HIT HARD AS TENNIS ASSN FAILS TO HOLD MAJOR EVENTS ITALIAN TREAT AT THE OBEROI SUKHVILAS SPA RESORT Agencies engaged in remediation of legacy waste have said that they are committed to completing the work on time. P3 The city, which used to host national ranking tournaments, has not hosted a single such meet for over seven months .P3 Anant Mahal at The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort, New Chandigarh, will host an Italian pop-up from May 7-11 . P4 » » AIR QUALITY INDEX CHANDIGARH 74 PANCHKULA 90 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sectors 34, 56 and Ram Darbar Mohali: Sec 88 and Phase 8 Please send information about events in tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com ROAD CLOSED Chandigarh: To facilitate recarpeting on the Sarovar Path, one side of the stretch between Sectors 44 and 45 will remain closed from April 30 to May 7. TNS MAX 36°C | MIN 20°C YESTERDAY MAX 36.5°C | MIN 21°C SUNRISE FRIDAY 5.40 AM /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ED seizes ~1.4 crore after raids in Bhullar money laundering probe Accused, aide fear ‘plant’ by agencies Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 29 Suspended Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar and his conduit Kirshanu Sharda have told a Chandigarh Special CBI Court that they apprehended something incriminating may be planted upon them by the ED and the CBI. The two accused, produced before Special CBI Judge Bhawna Jain through video conferencing, stated that the ED had raided their premises despite the CBI having already conducted searches there twice and taken away all relevant material. They flagged their apprehension before the court, which allowed their respective counsel to move an appropriate application regarding the same, if they so chose. The court, however, declined a separate request of the accused to be produced in person before it on every date of hearing, holding the same not feasible at this stage. The development comes after the ED registered a fresh Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) against Bhullar and others and carried out simultaneous searches at 11 premises to trace pro- Chandigarh, April 29 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 1.4 crore and recovered incriminating documents linked to money laundering activities in the case of suspended Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a senior ED officer, shared with The Tribune on Wednesday. Searches were carried out at 11 premises across Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar on Monday. The searches, conducted by the ED’s Chandigarh Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeted premises linked to Bhullar, his associates — including property dealers — and suspected “benamidars”, the officer said, adding that further investigation is ongoing to uncover the nexus between property dealers, intermediaries and public servants associated with Bhullar. PROPERTIES ACQUIRED IN BENAMI NAMES The ED investigation has revealed that substantial cash deposits and transfers were made in the bank accounts of Searches at 11 premises unearth benami property trail spanning Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Mohali, Zirakpur; cash routed through property dealers, layered in bank accounts of suspected “benamidars” THE TRIGGER ■ The ED initiated its money-laundering investigation on the basis of two FIRs registered by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch, Chandigarh. ■ The first FIR stems from a complaint by Akash Batta, alleging that illegal gratification was demanded by Bhullar, then DIG, through his middleman Kirshanu Sharda, for settling an FIR registered at Sirhind police station. ■ The second FIR relates to Bhullar’s possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. MAJOR OPERATION Further investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of the money laundering activities and to uncover the nexus between property dealers, intermediaries and public servants associated with Bhullar. various property dealers and associated persons — suspected “benamidars” — who had no legitimate source of income commensurate with their investments in land. The pattern and scale of transactions indicate that large amounts of unaccounted cash were routed through multiple accounts and layered in the bank accounts of suspected benamidars, before being utilised for acquisition of properties in their names. Original property documents recovered during searches at Bhullar’s Sector 40-B, Chandigarh, residence by the CBI earlier indicate his beneficial ownership of these assets. During Monday’s searches, evidence relating to multiple such properties — residential and agricultural assets located across Chandi- garh, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Mohali and Zirakpur — was recovered and seized. All these transactions are under investigation, the officer said. THE CASE BACKDROP Bhullar and Sharda were arrested on October 16, 2025, in Rs 8-lakh bribery trap case. Searches at Bhullar’s Chandigarh residence had earlier yielded Rs 7.36 crore in cash, gold and silver worth Rs 2.32 crore, 26 luxury watches, four firearms, documents relating to over 50 immovable properties and five luxury vehicles — against a declared annual income of Rs 45.95 lakh for 2024-25. Both have remained in judicial custody since arrest. The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed Bhullar’s regular bail plea on February 16. Tribune News Service Divorce cases can’t Saini releases BJP manifesto for Panchkula civic body polls drift: High Court sets one-year timeline Gaurav Kanthwal Tribune News Service Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 29 Making it clear that a divorce delayed is dignity denied, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a marriage dispute cannot be left to drift endlessly. Admonishing delays in matrimonial litigation, the Bench also directed a Family Court in Chandigarh to decide a pending divorce petition within a year, ruling that proceedings under matrimonial law cannot be allowed to stagnate at the very threshold. Justice Virinder Aggarwal asserted that the very purpose of creating exclusive Family Courts would stand defeated if cases were allowed to linger at preliminary stages. “The proceedings in divorce petitions are required to be dealt with and disposed of expeditiously,” the Bench observed, placing the issue in the larger framework of legislative intent and constitutional values. Referring to the statutory scheme, Justice Aggarwal observed: “The Family Courts Act, 1984, has been enacted with the object of establishing exclusive courts for adjudication of family disputes so as to ensure their speedy and effective disposal. The legislative intent underlying the Act envisages that matrimonial disputes should not be prolonged unnecessarily and ought to be concluded at the earliest possible stage.” The direction came in a civil revision petition seeking “supervisory intervention” for expeditious adjudication of a divorce plea PARTLY CLOUDY SUNSET THURSDAY 6.59 PM » THURSDAY | 30 APRIL 2026 | CHANDIGARH FORECAST under the Hindu Marriage Act. The High Court was told that the proceedings had not moved beyond the initial stage despite the passage of time. In its detailed order, the Bench observed the divorce petition had been pending since November 25, 2024, and remained at the initial stage. “In these circumstances, a case is made out for the exercise of supervisory jurisdiction by this Court under Article 227 of the Constitution of India.” Disposing of the petition, the Bench directed the Family Court at Chandigarh to take up and decide the divorce petition expeditiously, “preferably within a period of one year from the next date fixed before the learned Family Court.” The petitioner-husband submitted that despite filing the divorce petition more than a year ago, the matter remained stuck at a preliminary stage. An amendment application moved at the outset was met with prolonged inaction, with the respondent filing a reply only after nearly a year. Even thereafter, another application filed by the petitioner remained unanswered, leading to repeated adjournments. The High Court adjourned the hearing in the matter to May 14. Panchkula, April 29 Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and BJP state president Pandit Mohan Lal Badoli on Wednesday released the party’s manifesto for the MC elections to be held in Panchkula, Ambala, Sonepat, Rewari, Sampla and Uklana at Panchkamal, the BJP state office here. As many as 21 major promises have been made in the manifesto. The Chief Minister and the BJP’s state president have stated that the party would fulfil each promise 100 per cent. Addressing the gathering during the release of the manifesto, Saini said out of 217 pledges made during the 2024 Assembly elections, the BJP government had fulfilled 63, while work was in progress on the remaining promises. He expressed confidence that the government would fulfil all promises within five years. Speaking on the municipal body resolution letter, Saini said the triple engine government would work speedily on important points such as making cities green, strengthening the cleanli- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, BJP state president Mohan Lal Badoli and senior leaders release the party’s manifesto for the MC elections in Panchkula. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAVI KUMAR PROMISES 2,100 FLATS FOR REHABILITATION OF RAJIV, INDIRA COLONY RESIDENTS AT KHARAK MANGOLI ~280 cr For Integrated Command and Control Centre ~20 cr To be spent on construction of MC building ness campaign, upgrading sewerage, developing modern parks, improving traffic and road infrastructure, empowering street vendors, strengthening security ~200 cr Earmarked for excess rainwater management ~160 cr Five STPs of 76 MLD capacity to be built through CCTV network and digitising citizen services. Speaking about Panchkula, the Chief Minister said Panchkula had witnessed a lot of development after 2014. ~50 cr For upgrade of sector-dividing roads Every intersection and road in the city was being widened. The BJP manifesto for Panchkula promises the rehabilitation of Rajiv Colony and Indira Colony residents in 2,100 flats at Kharak Mangoli at a cost of Rs 300 crore. An Integrated Command and Control Centre will be set up at a cost of Rs 280 çrore and the MC building constructed at a cost of Rs 20 crore. The other key pledges include Rs 200-crore project for excess rainwater management, five STPs of 76 MLD capacity to be built at a cost of Rs 160 crore, strengthening of Sector 31 sewerage system and upgrade of the Nadda chowk at a cost of Rs 10 crore, Rs100 crore for waste collection from houses, waste management, sweeping of roads; and revival of streams and water bodies at a cost of Rs 100 crore. Also, a world-class shooting range and a sports complex will be built at a cost of Rs 170 crore, Rs 80 crore will be spent on constructing a sports complex in Naggal village and Rs 10 crore on a bovine centre (Nandishala). Two flyovers will be built at Burj Kotian and near the HMT club for a better connectivity of Sectors 2, 3, 4, 5 with Pinjore and Kalka on National Highway 5. A fund of Rs 50 crore will be made available for sector-dividing roads in Panchkula and Rs 40 crore for repair and beautification of the city roads. ceeds of crime, identify benami assets and gather evidence of money laundering. DAY-TO-DAY TRIAL DECISION TODAY On the CBI's application under Section 4 of the Prevention of Corruption Act seeking expeditious commencement and day-to-day trial of the main bribery case, the defence was granted time to file its reply, which is now due on April 30. Two fresh interlocutory applications, filed separately on behalf of Bhullar and Sharda, seeking a direction to the prosecution to place on record the list of unrelied statements, documents and articles seized during investigation, were disposed of after the CBI's public prosecutor placed on record a copy of unrelied documents and articles. The prosecutor stated that, as informed by the Investigating Officer, there were no unrelied witness statements. Arguments on two earlier applications were heard, and both were dismissed vide a separate order of the same date. The defence counsel also requested that data supplied to the accused on April 24 be scrutinised by the next date of hearing, which the court allowed. Man gets 20-yr RI for raping minor Chandigarh, April 29 A local court has sentenced a 40-year-old man to 20-year imprisonment after holding him guilty in a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) case registered a year ago. The court has imposed a fine of Rs 50, 000 on the convict. The police registered the case on a complaint filed by the victim in June last year. She reported that her mother left for work in the morning and returned late in the evening. She alleged that the accused raped her when she was alone at home. — TNS New Chd-Mumbai flight from May 1 Mohali: The Tricity’s connectivity to Mumbai has been boosted with yet another flight being added to the schedule from May 1. The Mumbai-Chandigarh-Mumbai daily flight will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport in Mumbai at 4:25 pm and land here at 6:45 pm. It will depart from the Mohali airport at 7:15 pm and arrive at Mumbai on 9:35 pm. — TNS Court puts ‘Pitt Siyapa’ team on notice over script theft claim Mohali writer seeks stay on release, promotional activities of film Tribune News Service ‘Pitt Siyapa’ stars Sonam Bajwa and Paramvir Cheema. FILE PHOTO c m y b Chandigarh, April 29 A Mohali-based story writer and poet has moved court alleging copyright infringement against the makers of upcoming Punjabi film “Pitt Siyapa”, starring Sonam Bajwa and Paramvir Cheema. An Additional District Judge has issued a notice to the entire production team on Tuesday and fixed the next hearing for April 30. Deepti Babuta filed the copyright infringement and damages suit against production house Movie Tunnel Productions, producer Balwinder Singh Janjua, lead actress Sonam Bajwa and lead actor Paramvir Cheema. The suit was filed through advocates Dharam Bir Bhargav and Kulwinder Bhargav before the court of Mohali Additional District Judge Neetika Verma. Babuta alleged that the sto- ryline of Pitt Siyapa was originally authored by her in 2019 under the title “VIP Bhog”. She further claimed that a stage play based on the same storyline, titled “Bhog Mela”, was performed at Punjab Kala Bhawan, Sector 16, Chandigarh, in 2020, establishing prior public record of her work. The suit contends that the producers, in connivance with their associates, copied and stole her script and fraudulently claimed it as their own original creation. Babuta has sought a stay on the film’s release along with a restraint order covering all promotional activities, including premieres, social media campaigns and press conferences, besides damages and rendition of accounts. The court, taking up the matter, issued a notice to all four defendants and directed them to appear on April 30.