Chandigarh, October 30
Asserting that the alleged rape victim is not a minor and there is no base to the claims of the prosecution that she is below 18 years of age, defence counsel in the case involving UT police constables as accused prayed for dismissal of the case. He also said there was no evidence in the case.

Final arguments in the case ended today and the case has now been adjourned to November 1.

Defence counsel Rabindra Pandit stated before the court that the prosecution had claimed that she was a minor when she was allegedly raped, but they failed to produce on record any evidence that could establish their claim.

“The victim’s mother who is the only witness to ascertain the exact age of the victim has not been examined as the prosecution claims she has been ‘won over’. The girl at the time of registration of the case claimed she was born on March 29, 1996. The date of birth on her school-leaving certificate is mentioned as August 20, 1996. She has also admitted that she could have been born in 1995. Doctors who conducted the bone ossification test opined that her age was between 15 and-a-half and 16 and-a-half years with two years margin of error. The law says that chances of error are towards the upper side and thus there is nothing to prove that she is a minor,” said Rabindra Pandit.The accused sought acquittal submitting no case was made out as the victim herself had turned hostile and even the medical evidence was in their favour.Concluding arguments, the defence counsel submitted that there was nothing to prove that the victim was a minor and the CFSL report had also failed to prove the allegations.

Mohali , October 30
Five members of a family have been sentenced to seven years’ jail in a case of culpable homicide involving the death of a woman.

The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Tarsem Mangla sentenced Manohar Singh, his wife Amarjit Kaur, Bikram Singh, his wife Bhupinder Kaur and uncle Kulwant Singh, in a case related to the death of Gurdev Kaur. A case under Sections 302, 452, 323 and 148 of the IPC was registered at the Lalru police station on the complaint of Jarnail Singh, the deceased’s husband, on February 17, 2007. Later, the five accused were tried under Sections 304, 452 and 455 of the IPC.

According to the complainant, the accused family had got his daughter married to a Fatehgarh Sahib resident. After a matrimonial dispute, a case was registered against his daughter’s father-in-law. The accused were allegedly pressing Jarnail to withdraw the case. On February 17, the accused allegedly beat him up and later, forcibly entered his house and attacked his wife and daughter. His wife succumbed to her injuries. — OC

Mohali, October 30
The Mohali court today rejected the bail application of Kriscpy Khaira’s husband and coloniser Davinder Singh Thapa, alias Davinder Singh Gill, in a case of preparing fake matriculation certificate.

The court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) Surbhi Prashar rejected the bail application of Davinder, against whom a cheating case was registered at the Phase VIII police station on October 6 following the CBI’s recommendation.

As per the FIR, Davinder was booked under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 474 of the IPC for preparing fake matriculation certificate of Punjab School Education Board for the obvious purpose of changing his identity to Davinder Singh Gill.

Notably, the CBI had been investigating the corruption case involving Thapa and BJP leader Raj Khurana, registered at the Rajpura police station.

According to the police, Davinder used the certificate to procure arms licence and passport.

Davinder’s wife Kriscpy Khaira claimed, “The police could not recover any such certificate. If they had it, then why did not they produce it in the court.”

After the court rejected his bail application, Davinder was sent to Burail Jail in Chandigarh.

Mohali , October 30
The Permanent Lok Adalat (Public Utility Services), Mohali, headed by Jagroop Singh Mahal, has directed a loanee of Dera Bassi village to refund Rs 18,73,703 along with an interest at 12 per cent per annum to Allahabad Bank.

The loanee has also been asked to pay litigation costs of Rs 5,000.

According to information, Bhupal Singh of Chachroli village had taken an agricultural loan of Rs 12,00,000 and a credit limit of Rs 3,00,000 from Allahabad Bank, Dera Bassi. He agreed to repay the loan amount in installments but committed a default. A total of Rs 18,81,967 was due as on October 28, 2013, when an application was filed by the bank to the Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS) for the recovery of the amount.

A notice was issued to respondent Bhupal Singh but he avoided service and subsequently deputed an advocate to appear on his behalf. The advocate sought four adjournments to file a reply and thereafter, neither the applicant nor his advocate appeared before the adalat.

Efforts were made for reconciliation and in the meantime, the bank was directed to produce its evidence.

When the respondent absented himself from the adalat, a copy of the evidence and documents were sent to the respondent, which were delivered to him but even then he was not present. The terms of settlement were framed in the case and again a copy of the evidence and documents, along with the terms of settlement, were sent to the respondent.

When efforts to decide the dispute by conciliation failed, the Permanent Lok Adalat (PUS) heard arguments and decided the case on merits.

Chandigarh, October 30
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Shalini Nagpal convicted a clerk employed with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation in a case of corruption.

As per the prosecution case, the vigilance cell of the UT police had nabbed the accused Om Parkash Thakur in March, 2012. The convict was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 7,000 from a taxi operator. Seven currency notes of 1,000 denominations were recovered from him.The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on October 31.

Mohali, October 30
A 41-year-old farmer was found murdered at Shahpur village near Kurali on Wednesday night.

The body of Didar Singh, who had gone to sleep in the fields to guard his crop last night, was found lying in a pool of blood this morning when his daughter Davinder Kaur went to the fields to give him tea. There were deep injury marks on the head. The police found strands of hair in the deceased’s hands. The police suspected that the hair stands could be of the killer, who is yet to be identified. Satwinder Singh, the deceased’s son, said, “We have doubt on some persons and their names have been given to the police,” he said. A forensic team and a dog squad also visited the spot to find a clue to the murder. On the complaint of Satwinder, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons. — TNS

Chandigarh, October 30
A case under the IT Act has been registered at the Sector 19 police station after some unknown person withdrew Rs 60,000 from an ATM.

Sources said that the complainant alleged that he received a call from someone who claimed himself to be calling from the bank. The accused claimed that the complainant’s ATM card had been blocked. The accused then took the ATM pin number from the complainant.

It was later the complainant received an SMS on his mobile phone that money had been withdrawn from his account through the ATM. The mobile number from which the accused called the complainant has been provided to the police and an investigation has been initiated.

Chandigarh, October 30
Two accident deaths were reported in the city in the last 24 hours.

A 26-year-old died after the two-wheeler he was riding on slipped near the road dividing Sector 15/16 on Wednesday night. The pillion rider also received minor injuries in the accident.

Police officials said that the victim was identified as Kulvir Singh who was working with a catering company and was coming back from the work when the scooter slipped following which both the occupants fell on the road.

Both the injured were rushed to Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH), Sector 16. Kulvir who was hit on the head succumbed to his injuries.

An autopsy was conducted and a case at the Sector 11 police station has been registered and an investigation has been initiated.

In another accident, 70-year-old Suraj Prakash Malhotra died while his wife Kishan Malhotra was injured after the scooter they were riding was hit by a vehicle near the Sector 33/20 roundabout on Thursday. The police said Suraj Prakash, a resident of Dashmesh Colony in Zirakpur, was driving the scooter at the time of accident. The car driver rushed both the injured to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH) Sector 32; however, Suraj Prakash succumbed to his injuries.

The police reached the spot and started investigations into the case.

Chandigarh, October 30
Unknown officials of a leading insurance company, of Noida, have been booked for cheating and defrauding Rs 18 lakh from a Sector 11 resident owner of a boutique and her father on the pretext of investing in different policies.

Chandigarh, October 30
My main motive is to encourage Indian players. This was stated by Vijay Amritraj to extend support to tennis players through his project titled Champions’ Tennis League (CTL).

“The CTL has been introduced to give confidence to junior players in the presence of world’s top-ranking players. The championship will be not based on making profits, but to provide the Indian players an environment to learn and travel with the superiors,” said Amritraj.

“I was lucky to travel with top ranking players during my earlier days. It actually helped me a lot. The championship has been introduced on the same lines. Every team besides having an international star will have top-ranking Indian Davis Cup players as well. Also two junior-level players will get a chance to travel with the team and learn from their superiors,” said Vijay.

On the occasion, Vijay said players from the region need to improve. “We are not referring to individuals here. It is not that the region is not doing well, but the standard needs to be uplifted. Hopefully, in the next session we will see more of players from the region marking their presence here.”

On his favourite team in the CTL, the tennis legend maintained, “We have chosen world’s top 25 seeded players, for six different franchisees, to participate in the championship. So, there is no question of any single favourite team. All the players in different franchisees are the best.”

Chandigarh, October 30
The local baseball team lifted the trophy of the 60th National School Games in baseball in both the categories (boys and girls) today.

In the final, the host side defeated Chhattisgarh 8-3 at Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 15, to win the title. Maharashtra managed to finish third. The team defeated Goa 12-2. Earlier, in the semifinals, Chhattisgarh defeated Goa 15-08 and Maharashtra went down against Chandigarh 3-0. In the finals of the boys’ category, the host side logged win against Chhattisgarh 67-1 and claimed the winning trophy. Delhi attained third spot and defeated Maharashtra 11-3.

Chandigarh, October 30
Krishan Hooda and Naresh Badgujar lifted the doubles title during the ongoing CLTA-AITA Talent Series (TS-7) Tennis Tournament at the CLTA tennis courts in Sector 10 today.

In a well-settled final, the winning side defeated Sehaj Punj and Dhruv Sharma 2-6, 7-5 and 17-15.

In the singles’ category, CHART trainee Shashikant defeated another CHART trainee Asav Kumar 6-2, 6-0 to reach the final with conceding only two games. Another CHART trainee Bhupender defeated his practice partner Naresh Badgujar 6-3 and 6-2.

In the girls’ category (singles), CLTA trainee third seed Rahat Mangat defeated CHART trainee Bindu Kulhria 6-2 and 6-0 while, sixth seed Srishty Dheer overpowered Priyanka Jakhar in straight sets 6-4 and 6-4.

Results

Boys semi-final main draw (Singles): Bhupender Dahiya bt Naresh Badgujjar 6-3, 6-2, Shashikant Rajput bt. Asav Kumar 6-1, 6-1

Girls semi-final main draw (Singles): Rahat Mangat bt Bindu Kulhria 6-2, 6-0, Shrishty Dheer bt. Priyanka Jakhar 6-4, 6-4

Boys final main draw (Doubles): Krishan Hooda/ Naresh Badgujar bt Sehaj Punj/Dhruv Sharma 2-6, 7-5, 17-15.

Chandigarh, October 30
Strawberry Fields School, Sector 26, and Saupin’s School, Sector 32, logged win in their respective matches during the ongoing Independent School Association (ISA) Football Tournament for Boys (U-14) today.

In the first match, Strawberry Fields School, Sector 26, beat Saint Soldier International School, Sector 28, 2-0. Arav and Arnav hogged limelight in the match. The duo scored a goal each in the starting minutes of the second half to win the match.

In the second match, Saupin’s School overpowered Gem Public School 3-0. Gurnoor, Samuel and Aman scored one goal each to win the match. — TNS