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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Property dealer hacked to death on busy Ludhiana road
A Ludhiana-based property dealer, Kuldeep Singh, 65, was hacked to death on the busy Dhandra Road on Friday night. A video grab of the attack in Ludhiana. The incident, which was captured on video by a passerby and later circulated on social media, shows a man using a sword to hit the victim multiple times, near the Missing Link 2 approach road. Despite the victim's repeated cries for help, no one intervened. Eyewitnesses said the elderly man was screaming in pain while one of the men kept attacking him mercilessly with a sword. Kuldeep was the late Akali Dal MP Jagdev Singh Talwandi's ex-personal assistant. According to the police, the victim left his farmhouse in a car when a group of men in a Maruti Swift car began following him. 'They rear-ended Kuldeep's vehicle. When he stepped out to check the damage, they overpowered him and attacked him with swords until he collapsed. The attackers then fled the spot in their car,' said sub-inspector Avneet Kaur, Sadar police station in-charge. Police believe the murder was pre-planned. 'Kuldeep owned a licensed pistol. It's likely that the attackers were aware of this, and they hit his vehicle intentionally to lure him out of the car,' added the SI. The deceased was settled abroad with his wife and kids. He had returned to India a few days in connection with some property-related issue. Initial investigations suggest that an old property dispute or personal rivalry may be behind the attack. 'He had some past disputes, but no fresh conflict has come to our notice so far. We are exploring all angles,' she said. Police have recovered a video of the incident shot by a passerby. The absence of CCTV cameras near the crime scene is making it difficult for cops to identify the vehicle or the attackers clearly. The police are scanning other surveillance footage from nearby roads and are conducting raids to nab the culprits.
The Print
6 days ago
- Business
- The Print
From Gorakhpur to Singapore & Cyprus, Punjab vigilance cites ‘money trail' to seek Majithia's remand
On Thursday, making these submissions in its remand application before a Mohali court, the bureau sought a 15-day remand for Majithia, the brother-in-law of Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Majithia was arrested from his Amritsar residence Wednesday, after simultaneous raids across 25 locations linked to him by bureau sleuths and the special investigation team (SIT) probing a drugs case against him. The bureau alleged that cash deposits of Saraya Industries, a Gorakhpur-based firm with ties to Majithia, tripled from Rs 40 crore in the financial year 2006-07 to Rs 121 crore in the next financial year, when Majithia had already become a cabinet minister in the then Parkash Singh Badal-led Punjab government. The cash deposits further swelled in the next financial year 2008-09, to Rs 165 crore. New Delhi: Punjab Vigilance Bureau has alleged that cash deposits of a firm with ties to senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia 'spiked' multifold between 2007 and 2009, and that Rs 161 crore in 'unexplained cash' was deposited into the firm's accounts during the same period. The agency has also alleged that the firm received Rs 141 crore through 'dubious foreign investments from Cyprus and Singapore'. Facilitated by Majithia, more than Rs 540 crore was laundered through illicit channels into the bank accounts of companies, a spokesperson with the vigilance bureau alleged Wednesday. The spokesperson broke the amount down: cash deposits to the tune of Rs 165 crore, Rs 141 crore routed from offshore entities in Singapore and Cyprus, and financial statements of Saraya Industries accounting for an additional credit of Rs 236 crore, without making any disclosures. On the other hand, legal counsels of Majithia—advocates H.S. Dhanoa, Arshdeep Singh Cheema, and Arshdeep Singh Kler—argued that their client resigned as director of the firm, Saraya Industries, and that his role was limited to that of a shareholder, with roughly 11 percent ownership of the company, as inherited from his grandfather. 'The SIT formed to probe the drug case filed three affidavits in the Supreme Court, giving the same set of allegations in the present case. However, as their efforts to present the money as proceeds from drugs did not bear fruit, the same set of allegations has been reproduced as a case of disproportionate assets against my client,' Cheema told ThePrint. Adding, 'He (Majithia) is neither an office bearer nor a beneficiary of the funds received by the company.' The vigilance bureau, presenting grounds for Majithia's arrest, alleged that he, along with his family members, used as many 200 bank accounts in different banks to recoup the Rs 540 crore and that it wanted to take him into custody to ascertain details of the same. 'The investigation has also revealed ownership or beneficial interest in properties, investments, and other financial instruments in the name of third parties, who appear to be benami holders, acting at the instance of the accused,' the bureau alleged in the remand application, a copy of which ThePrint has seen. The agency further argued that since it had to seize and examine the registers of the Gorakhpur-based firm before confronting Majithia with the entries in the registers, his custodial interrogation was essential. According to the vigilance bureau, the suspicious funds Saraya Industries received from 'dubious foreign investments' from Cyprus and Singapore—Rs 141 crore—was settled for Rs 53 crore, less than half the amount, later. Asserting that Cyprus is known as a 'hub of money swindlers', the vigilance bureau further said, 'The accused is required to be interrogated to unearth his illegal connections with such foreign entities. The nature, purpose, and legitimacy of these transactions remain unsubstantiated.' The bureau further asserted that to conduct a proper investigation and to unearth the facts, interrogation was essential and that it would help corroborate the financial trail and beneficiary links. The Mohali court then ordered the remand of Majithia till 1 July, adding that the bureau should produce him before it on 2 July. 'At this stage, the court is required to see whether the custodial interrogation of the accused is required for the investigation to reach its just conclusion or not. Various discrepancies and questionable transactions have surfaced which require thorough investigation. The grounds upon which the police remand has been sought are well founded. The answers to the questions posed by the investigation agency can only be found out during custodial interrogation,' on duty Judicial Magistrate 1st Class Kirandeep Singh observed in the order. Also Read: AAP's old foe Majithia 'knew' he was next, warned CM Mann before arrest—'will make you scream'
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
June 23, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Pakistan's N-Bomb
The US Government had assured the Indian leaders during the visit of the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi that Pakistan was nowhere near making a nuclear bomb. The assurance was given on repeated apprehensions expressed by India on Pakistan's continuing efforts to acquire nuclear capability. Death in Custody Dalip Singh, editor of local Punjabi weekly Sacho Sach, died in judicial custody. The 70-year-old editor was arrested on June 6 after he published two 'inflammatory' letters allegedly written by Sirmanjit Singh, former SP of Fandkot district, now under detention under NSA, to President Zail Singh after Operation Blue Star. Centre-Akali Talks The Akali Dal high command held a second round of meeting in Chandigarh amid reports that a central government 'feeler for resumption of talks has been received by the party leadership.' The party chief, Harchand Singh Longowal, arrived in Chandigarh for 'urgent consultations' with senior party colleagues. Nepal Blasts Probe Political leaders and newspapers called for a national consensus to end the crisis in the Himalayan kingdom following the death of at least seven people in the first major terrorist bombings in Nepal's history. The police, meanwhile, launched an investigation into an underground revolutionary organisation that claimed responsibility.
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana influencer's killing: Faridkot MP honours Mehron's father
Religious vigilante Amritpal Singh Mehron, who is stated to be hiding in the UAE after allegedly killing a Ludhiana-based woman social media influencer as part of his moral policing, is getting support from several people, including Faridkot parliamentarian Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa and digital creators. Independent MP Khalsa visited Mehron village in Moga on Tuesday and honoured the murder accused's father Baljinder to reporters, Khalsa expressed his 'gratitude' to Mehron for his 'act'. 'Jo ve eh hoya hai asi usdi shalaha karde haan (whatever it happened deserves commendation). Immoral content on social media platforms has a nuisance value for all age groups using mobile phones,' said Khalsa, son of former PM Indira Gandhi's assassin Beant Singh and leader of Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) party. The MP said, 'It is unfortunate that those posting immoral content on social media platforms are being provided police security, whereas those working against it are being harassed by the authorities.' Akal Takht Sahib's head granthi Giani Malkit Singh on Monday justified Kanchan's murder, stating that the act was 'appropriate' in light of her alleged role in promoting obscenity. A young farmer activist from Haryana's Ambala, Navdeep Singh Jalbera, who shot to fame during the farmer agitation against three central farm laws, announced on his Facebook page his support for Mehron. Jalbera was called 'water canon boy' when attracted international media attention in November 2020, when farmers from Haryana and Punjab were rushing to Delhi on tractor-trailers, breaking police barricades, and he had jumped over a moving tractor after closing a nozzle of a water cannon trying to stop them. Jalbera, who has 1.14 lakh followers on Facebook, posted a video terming Mehron as 'quoam da heera' and 'we have a great respect for him for his action.' Another digital content creator, Bhana Sidhu, who has 1.42 lakh followers on Facebook, posted his photo with Mehron with a caption 'Amritpal de naal khade haan'. The photo was posted after Mehron was named as the main accused in Kanchan's murder. Sidhu posted several videos of Mehron where the latter was threatening social media influencers to stop posting 'vulgar' content online. Another social media enthusiast, Bhinda Harry Sangha, with over 2 lakh followers on his FB page, lamented those criticizing Kanchan's murder. He posted a video stating that Kanchan deserved 'sodha' or religious punishment by the community for defaming Sikhism. 'She wrongly portrayed herself as a Sikh and posted vulgar content,' he said in a video. Content indecent but killing totally wrong: Women's panel chief Chandigarh Punjab Women Commission chairperson Raj Rani Gill on Wednesday demanded strong regulation to monitor indecent content being served on social media by a few influencers. Talking to mediapersons, Gill said she would write to the Prime Minister, Punjab chief minister, governor and DGP to come out with strong laws to stop spreading vulgarity on social media by influencers. 'India is a culturally rich country. If we can regulate content related to arms and pornography, why not have strict provisions for dealing with vulgarity, nudity and anything which is indecent should be banned,' said Gill. She said controversial influencer Kamal Kaur's content being served on social media was totally vulgar but her killing was totally wrong. 'It was a cold-blooded murder. I am totally against the immoral acts but nobody has the right to kill anybody in the name of vigilantism,' said the chairperson. Gill said society in general should also raise the issue. 'How can a family accept money earned through indecent acts and videos,' she questioned. 'This vulgarity and indecency should not be linked with women empowerment. Freedom of speech is not vulgarity and indecency. Freedom of speech is about making you empowered for good reasons not for spreading vulgarity and indecency. It is adversely impacting our culture and leaving a bad impact on the kids,' said Gill.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
June 18, 1985, Forty Years Ago: US Assures India
The United States government has assured India that it will take every step to see that Pakistan does not produce a nuclear weapon. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi said the assurance came during his talks with US President Ronald Reagan and other leaders on Pakistan's plan to produce a nuclear weapon. Regarding Afghanistan, the PM said India favoured the United Nations initiative to solve the problem and referred to the 'proximity talks' between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to be held in Geneva later this week. All hostages aboard a hijacked US airliner were removed from the plane to an undisclosed location outside Beirut airport for security reasons, Shiite militia commander and Justice Minister Nabih Berri told a news conference. The evacuation occurred after midnight when there were fears of a rescue operation by foreign troops, he said. The 'United' Akali Dal dropped president Harchand Singh Longowal and SGPC chief G S Tohra from the ad hoc committee announced by Joginder Singh on May 1. A decision to this effect was taken at a joint meeting of the advisory and ad hoc committees of the party under the chairmanship of Singh. No other leaders have yet been nominated in their place. The Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and Eelam National Liberation Front (ENLF) of Sri Lanka, in a statement, have set five pre-conditions for cessation of hostilities. Cooperation will be extended if the Sri Lankan government lifts the prohibition and surveillance zones and other regulations prohibiting the movement of people in affected areas. The Sri Lankan armed forces should be completely withdrawn from Tamil areas.
