30072026-LT-01.qxd 7/30/2026 12:27 AM Page 1 c m y b Ludhiana tribune CITY STINKS AS SANITATION WORKERS STAY OFF WORK Impact of the strike becomes apparent as garbage piles up on roadsides across the city. P2 » 4 AAM AADMI PIND CLINICS TO BE INAUGURATED IN DIST ADITI RAO HYDARI, VAANI KAPOOR DAZZLE AT ICW Clinics to be opened on August 1 are first of eight such facilities to be made operational across the district.P3 Aditi & Siddharth close Jayanti Reddy’s show, while Vaani turns showstopper for Dolly J at India Couture Week. P4 » FORECAST GENERALLY CLOUDY MAX 32°C | MIN 26°C YESTERDAY MAX 34°C | MIN 26°C SUNSET THURSDAY 7:18 PM SUNRISE FRIDAY 5:40 AM » THURSDAY | 30 JULY 2026 | LUDHIANA FIR filed against 13 in multi-crore Cong leader’s grandson booked in liquor smugglers’ death case Malakpur panchayat funds ‘scam’ Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 The Ludhiana police have registered a case against 13 persons, including the then block development and panchayat officers, panchayat secretaries, a sarpanch, an assistant engineer and a gram sewak for alleged multi-crore financial irregularities in the utilisation of panchayat funds in Malakpur village of the district. The case was registered at the PAU police station on Tuesday under Sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on the directions of the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, after a detailed inquiry ordered by the Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana. The complaint was filed by Nazar Singh, a resident of Malakpur, recently. In his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, the IRREGULARITIES OCCURRED BETWEEN 2013-24 The complaint was filed by Nazar Singh, a resident of Malakpur, recently. In his complaint to the Deputy Commissioner, the complainant alleged that large-scale irregularities took place in the tenure of two panchayats of the village between 2013 and 2024 wherein funds worth several crores were misused by panchayat officials in connivance with each other. complainant alleged that large-scale irregularities took place in the tenure of two panchayats of the village between 2013 and 2024 wherein funds worth several crores were misused by panchayat officials in connivance with each other. According to the FIR, the government had deposited approximately Rs 13.74 crore as compensation in 2017-18 for a land acquired for a bypass project. Other government grants and Rural Development Funds were also credited to panchayat accounts during the period. Most amount was shown as spent on village streets and drains without following prescribed procedures. The complainant further stated in the FIR that no audit of the gram sabha accounts had been conducted since 2017. Even several pages of cash books and proceeding registers were found missing and local officials of the department were aware of the irregularities but took no action despite written and verbal complaints from villagers. It showed connivance of the panchayat officials in misusing funds. An inquiry committee, headed by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development), was constituted on the orders of the Deputy Commissioner. The inquiry remained pending for a long time and was also the subject of a civil writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which directed that the probe be completed within specified time frames. Sources said the final inquiry report found that proper procedures were not followed while making payments during different tenures of officials between 2017 and 2023. The report specifically pointed out instances where cheques were issued after passing resolutions at the panchayat level without obtaining required technical sanctions. The suspects named in the FIR include Rupinderjit Kaur, block development and panchayat officer, Jaswinder Singh, assistant engineer, Teja Singh, gram sewak, Baldev Singh, panchayat secretary, Sukhminder Singh, panchayat secretary, Malkit Kaur, sarpanch, Gurmel Singh, BDPO, Jagroop Singh, panchayat secretary, Kiranpal Singh, panchayat secretary, Kamal Bharti, VDO-cum-panchayat secretary and BDPOs Dhanwant Singh, Malkit Singh Bhatti and Rajinder Kaur. These officials served on their respective positions between 2013 to 2024 in the Panchayat Department and some of them had also retired now. A police official said the inquiry report had recommended detailed investigation by the Police Department as some of the officials named did not appear before the committee for crossexamination and it had further raised the suspicion about the role of the officials in the entire scam. “The police are now examining relevant records, bank statements, financial documents and other evidence related to the alleged misuse of public funds,” said a police official. Ludhiana, July 29 The Khanna police booked senior Congress leader Amrik Singh Dhillon’s grandson Karanvir Singh Dhillon in a case of recent death of two liquor smugglers who had died after drowning into the Sirhind Canal. Dhillon was booked on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder as his name was added to the already registered FIR in the death of the liquor smugglers. Dhillon is a liquor contractor. The incident involving the death of two illicit liquor smugglers has turned out to be a case of planned killings, allegedly orchestrated by henchmen of a liquor contractor. The smugglers had died after their Toyota Inno- Henchmen of suspect, a liquor contractor, rammed vehicle into victims’ MUV, causing it to plunge into canal va vehicle plunged into the Sirhind feeder canal in Samrala. Initially, the police treated it as an accident. However, after kin of the deceased suspected a conspiracy and raised questions over the incident, the police found that henchmen of a liquor contractor had intentionally rammed their vehicle into the smugglers’ vehicle, causing it to plunge into the canal and killing both occupants. The police had Loot, murder bid case cracked, two suspects arrested Residents irked as sewage Nearly 2 years on, floods houses during rain FIRregistered over missing Bengal man Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 Residents of a lane behind Hotel Chevron in Model Town have alleged that the Municipal Corporation’s failure to permanently resolve a long-pending sewerage problem has left them facing repeated flooding during every spell of rain. They claimed that sewerage water flows back into their homes and streets, causing inconvenience, foul smell and unhygienic conditions. According to residents, the problem has persisted for over two years despite repeated complaints to the corporation. They said every rainfall leads to sewerage overflowing from manholes and entering residential premises, making it difficult for families to carry out their daily routine. Advocate Yogesh Dewan, a resident of the area, said repeated representations, photographs and complaints had been submitted to the civic authorities but no permanent solution had been provided. He said residents were only seeking proper maintenance of the sewerage network so that the problem does not recur every monsoon. “The issue is not new. Every time it rains, sewerage water enters our homes. It creates unhygienic conditions and causes immense inconvenience to residents. We expect the authorities to identify the root cause and resolve it permanently, instead of offering temporary solutions,” Dewan said. Residents further alleged that complaints on the civic grievance system are often marked as resolved even though the problem continues to exist. They urged the corporation to verify complaints through field inspections before closing them. Some residents also claimed that sewer lines in the locality were not being cleaned thoroughly before the monsoon. They suggested that the affected stretch should be cleaned using high-capacity suction machines to improve the flow of the sewerage network and prevent backflow during heavy rain. Kishore Kumar, another resident, said families have been facing the same problem for the past two monsoons. “The foul smell, dirty water and repeated flooding have become a regular feature during rains. We only want a permanent solution so that residents do not have to suffer every year,” he said. The residents urged the Secretary, Local Government, Punjab, and the Municipal Commissioner to personally review the issue and direct the officials concerned to take corrective measures. They said a detailed inspection of the sewerage network and timely maintenance before the monsoon could help prevent similar problems in the future. Lovleen Bains Doraha, July 29 Nearly two years after a West Bengal native went missing under mysterious circumstances, the Doraha police have finally registered an FIR following persistent efforts by the victim’s family, who alleged inaction on the part of the police. The FIR was registered on Tuesday at the Doraha police station. Surjit (43), a resident of Salanpur in Asansol, West Bengal, residing near Doraha, worked at a factory in Kanech village in Sahnewal for over three years before he disappeared in September 2024. Complainant Soma Maji, the victim’s sister, said Surjit last called his mother on September 11, 2024, from his mobile, contact was lost afterwards. “While the number was active, an unidentified person answered once on September 17 but did not speak,” his sister said. It was on September 23, 2024, that they received a call from an unknown number. The caller said Surjit had been arrested by the Doraha police and demanded money for his release, then the person disconnected the call. Later, we lodged a complaint at Asansol, after which we were sent to the Doraha police. The complainant said the Doraha police accompanied her husband to Surjit’s residence and workplace in Sahnewal but nothing was found. A Zero FIR was eventually lodged at the Salanpur police station in West Bengal in November 2024. However, it took nearly two years for the case to be transferred and an FIR registered in Punjab. ASI Satpal Singh said the case was complex and required deeper scrutiny. The suspects in Samrala police custody on Wednesday. Ludhiana, July 29 The Samrala police claimed to have cracked a blind attempt-to-murder and loot case with the arrest of two suspects. They had looted a tractor driver, leaving him critically injured. DSP Samrala, Pritpal Singh, , said after getting information about the incident, police officials rushed to the spot and shifted the victim to a hospital. The victim, Amrinder Singh, a resident of Mushkabad, was later shifted to the DMCH due to serious injuries. The DSP said the victim was going to meet his sister when the two suspects, Harwinder Singh, alias Tonny, and Harminder Singh, alias Bhuri, res- idents of Mushkabad, stopped him on the way. With a motive to loot the victim, they brutally attacked him with iron rods and caused him serious head injuries. The suspects looted Rs 40,000 in cash and a mobile phone from the man. Both suspects were arrested from Guru Nanak Nagar, Samrala, and were produced in a court, which remanded them in fourday police custody. The DSP said during preliminary questioning of the suspects, it was found that the suspects were under the influence of liquor when they committed the crime. Further investigation was launched to check the criminal history of the suspects. — TNS already registered a case against the Mahindra Bolero driver and other associates of the liquor contractor on the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. In the case, the police had also arrested a Faridkot resident, Sandeep Kumar, under the Excise Act as the illicit liquor being transported by the two smugglers allegedly belonged to him. Khanna SSP Darpan Ahluwalia said Bolero, which was following the Innova loaded with Chandigarh-based liquor, belongs to the liquor contractor, Karanvir Dhillon, and they were chasing the smugglers on the suspicion that supply of Chandigarh liquor will cause loss to the area contractor. The Bolero hit the Innova, which plunged into the canal and caused two deaths. Youth Congress leader, 2 others booked on assault charge Ludhiana, July 29 The Payal police registered a case against Youth Congress Payal halqa president Gurnaz Singh and two unidentified associates for assaulting a man. Complainant Kiranjit Singh, a resident of Jirakh village in Payal assembly constituency, said on Tuesday he was going for a walk when the Youth Congress leader came there on a motorcycle with two of his friends. They stopped him on the road, knocked him down and assaulted him. After the incident, all three fled the scene. He suffered injuries in the attack. He was initially taken to the Civil Hospital, Malaud, from where he was later referred to a Ludhiana hospital for further treatment. Based on the statement of the injured, the police registered an FIR and launched further investigation. It was reported that the injured’s medical report and the final opinion of doctors are still pending. After receiving the report, stringent sections may be added to the case if necessary. ASI Harjinder Singh said raids were being conducted to arrest them. — TNS HC seeks details of MC work orders issued after Man posing as police official, July 9, asks civic body to explain financial decisions aides kidnap city resident F&CC ROW Sukhpreet Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) to submit, within a week, details of all financial decisions and work orders issued after July 9 in connection with the functioning of the Finance and Contracts Committee (F&CC). The matter has been adjourned to August 7. The directions came during the hearing of a petition challenging the nomination of two MLAs’ sons to the F&CC. During the pro- The directions came during the hearing of a petition challenging the nomination of two MLAs’ sons to the F&CC of the MC. FILE ceedings, the petitioner alleged that though no meeting of the Finance and Contracts Committee had been held after the court proceedings began, financial decisions were allegedly being taken through ver- bal approvals. The MC’s Joint Commissioner, who appeared before the court, disputed the allegation. The High Court directed the Municipal Corporation to file an affidavit specifying all financial decisions, if any, taken after the filing of the writ petition. According to sources, a few project work orders are understood to have been issued on an anticipation basis through verbal approval despite the absence of a formal F&CC meeting. The court has sought complete details of such work orders and is expected to examine whether these decisions were taken in accordance with law. The controversy relates to c m y b the functioning of the F&CC after the court took up the petition. In the previous hearing, the High Court had restrained the committee from taking any policy or financial decisions till further orders. The petitioner has argued that any project approvals or work orders issued after the court’s intervention would amount to a violation of its directions, while the civic body has maintained that no irregular financial decisions have been taken. The case will now come up for hearing on August 7, when the MC is expected to place the affidavit and details of all work orders and financial decisions in the court. Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana, July 29 A man claiming to be a police officer, along with his associates, forcibly bundled a local resident into a car on the pretext of questioning him in a criminal case in Sector 32, Chandigarh road, here. Later, the suspects forced him to sign a cheque and withdrew Rs 2 lakh from his bank account. They also took away Rs 22,000 from his pocket before fleeing the scene. On the basis of a complaint, the Police Division 7 registered a case against a named suspect and three unidentified persons and launched a probe. In his complaint to the Force victim to withdraw ~2 lakh from bank; four booked police, Gurpreet Singh, a resident of Guru Nanak Street, Gill Road, stated that he had gone to the Patwarkhana in Sector 32 for some personal work on July 28. Meanwhile, a person, Sandeep Singh, along with three associates, came there. Sandeep introduced himself as a police employee and forcibly made him sit in a Mahindra vehicle before taking him away. Issuing threats, the suspects first took him to his house, where they took a cheque related to his bank account. Afterwards, they took the victim to the HDFC Bank branch at Gill, where they forced him to sign a self-cheque under threats of killing him and implicating him in false cases. Later, they withdrew Rs 2 lakh in cash from his account. The suspects also took away Rs 22,000 that the complainant was carrying in his pocket. Gurpreet said after the incident, the suspects dropped him near Marado Colony and fled. They also warned him of serious consequences if he informed anyone about the incident. The police registered a case against Sandeep and his three unidentified associates. Police officials said raids were on to trace the suspects.