04102026-CT-01.qxd 10/4/2026 12:36 AM Page 1 c m y b Chandigarh tribune » FARMERS’ MARCH DISRUPTS TRAFFIC IN CITY INSIDE » CONG SLAMS MC OVER INACTION AGAINST MASIH INSIDE MAX 34°C | MIN 24°C YESTERDAY MAX 35.1°C | MIN 22.7°C SUNSET SUNDAY 6.04 PM SUNRISE MONDAY 6.08 AM » /THETRIBUNECHD FACEBOOK/CHANDIGARHTRIBUNE ~116-CR SMART CITY FUND SCAM AT IDFC FIRST BANK CHANDIGARH 81 PANCHKULA 60 401-500 301-400 201-300 101-200 51-100 0-50 GENERALLY CLOUDY TRAFFIC CURBS FOR IAF MARATHON TODAY INSIDE SUNDAY | 4 OCTOBER 2026 | CHANDIGARH AIR QUALITY INDEX FORECAST SEVERE VERY POOR POOR MODERATE SATISFACTORY GOOD WHAT’S ON APNI MANDI Chandigarh: Sec 34 and Dadumajra Mohali: Sector 88, Phase 8 Please send information about events in Tricity at: whatson@tribunemail.com 3 spa centres, salons raided in Mohali; 5 held Mohali, October 3 The police raided three commercial establishments operating as spa centres and salons and arrested five persons involved in immoral activities. Several girls were rescued from the spots, the police said. The establishments raided and subsequently closed were Tree Family Spa in Sector 79, Mojo Continued on Page 4 Lapses in opening of account by civic body led to fraud: Audit Ramkrishan Upadhyay Tribune News Service Chandigarh, October 3 A recent report of the Principal Director General of Audit (Central) has flagged several lapses in the opening and operation of the bank account by the MC in IDFC First Bank after the closure of Chandigarh Smart City Company Limited (CSCL). The CBI has already filed a chargesheet against all accused in the Rs 116-crore fake fixed deposit receipt (FDR) scam. The audit was conducted after the scam came to the notice of the authorities and an FIR was registered. Later, the case was transferred to the CBI. After scrutinising the records and applicable rules, the audit report observed that the government’s investment policy was not adhered to while opening the account and investing the funds. Report flags non-adherence to investment policy, weak internal controls, failure to exercise due vigilance The report referred to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Financial Services, directions issued on January 25, 2008, stating that preference should be given to public sector banks for transactions and funds under the control of government departments. It said at least 60 per cent of such funds should be placed with public sector banks. The directions also advised that the practice of inviting competitive bids for bulk deposits be discontinued and that such deposits be placed with banks with which the department had regular business, including public sector banks. During scrutiny of records furnished by the MC, the audit found that after the closure of the CSCL, the civic body opened a dedicated flexi fixed c m y b deposit account with an autosweep facility in IDFC First Bank, Sector 32, on March 27, 2025, at an interest rate of 8.85 per cent per annum. On the same day, the Joint Commissioner, MC, requested the bank to open the fixed deposit account in the name of the “Commissioner, MCC”. The bank subsequently issued FDRs totalling Rs 116.84 crore between March 28 and April 6, 2025, from the dedicated account. These FDRs were later found to be suspected and did not appear in the bank’s records. The audit observed that investing the entire available amount in a private sector bank was in clear non-compliance with the directions requiring at least 60 per cent of funds to be placed with public sector banks. When asked to explain the non-compliance and furnish Continued on Page 4 Virat Kohli loses his wicket during the 3rd ODI against West Indies at Mullanpur. RAVI KUMAR Kohli’s golden duck dismissal hurts, but Rohit lifts fans’ spirits Deepankar Sharda Tribune News Service Mullanpur, October 3 A blazing sun and the early dismissal of Virat Kohli for a golden duck (out on first ball) kept fans away from the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium during the initial phase of the first-ever men’s ODI here. However, as KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma displayed their class, the stands gradually filled to capacity and fans were treated to impressive innings from both batters against the West Indies. The match, which started at 2 pm, witnessed a low response from the stands initially. The major setback came in the opening overs when local boy Shubman Gill and Kohli were back in the pavilion with India at 4/2. However, as the sun began to set, Rohit and Rahul took charge to make the evening a memorable one. Rohit had set his sights on a second consecutive century but fell eight runs short. Rahul, meanwhile, went on to score a career-best 129 off 87 balls, Continued on Page 5