Vishal Rambani

A special correspondent, Vishal Rambani is the bureau chief at Patiala. He covers politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues, with several investigative stories to his credit.

Articles by Vishal Rambani

Jolt to power consumers, Punjab hikes tariff by 8.64%

With Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission revising fixed and variable tariff upward for all categories, the government’s subsidy burden has risen to ₹21,162 crore

The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission decision to hike power tariff will hit commercial and industrial consumers worst besides the Punjab government itself for its populist decisions of providing 300 units free to domestic consumers besides free power to farmers. (Representational photo)
Updated on May 15, 2023 05:20 PM IST

More trouble for AAP MLA, ED seeks details of graft case from VB

ED’s regional office in Jalandhar has written to the vigilance bureau to provide details of the entire case. The VB has already presented a chargesheet in the case on April 19

AAP MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta (Sourced)
Updated on May 15, 2023 12:50 AM IST
By, Patiala

Punjab govt committed to bringing governance at people’s doorsteps: Bhagwant Mann

Kicking off government’s initiative “Sarkar Tuhade Dwar” from Dhuri legislative constituency, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said this step will “further revolutionise the entire governance system” by ensuring delivery of citizen-centric services at doorsteps of people.

Mann said that this initiative will empower people and will prove to be a gamechanger. (HT File Photo)
Updated on May 11, 2023 11:09 PM IST

40 years on, Punjab govt moves court to claim prime land in Patiala

Court orders status quo after DC finds 8,200 square yards of government land, worth ₹200 crore, usurped by private parties on Bhupindra Road by securing an ex-parte decree

A notice put up on the boundary wall of the disputed property, stating that its sale or purchase has been stopped after a Patiala court ordered status quo. (HT Photo)
Updated on May 08, 2023 05:16 PM IST

Punjab crime: Patiala businessman’s murder case solved with rival’s arrest

Police crack case within six hours of incident, say professional rivalry triggered crime as Darshan Singla of Sunam was bagging most government labour contracts and accused Pawan Bajaj was losing out

Businessman Darshan Singla of Sunam was shot dead by his professional rival, Pawan Bajaj, in Patiala on Thursday, police said after arresting him within six hours of the incident. (Representational photo)
Updated on May 05, 2023 04:07 PM IST

Ex-DGP Chattopadhyaya chargesheeted for providing security to PO in rape case

Former Punjab top cop Siddharth Chattopadhyaya, who is already facing disciplinary proceedings for a ‘major penalty’ in connection with a security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ferozepur in 2022, has been chargesheeted by the home department for providing security to a proclaimed offender in a rape case.

The chargesheet,has been issued by additional chief secretary (home) (HT File Photo)
Updated on May 02, 2023 01:04 AM IST

VB awaits nod to prosecute over 100 officials, politicians

The Punjab government is yet to grant the mandatory sanction to prosecute former ministers and officials who are under the vigilance bureau (VB) scanner, officials familiar with the matter said. The VB is waiting to get nod to prosecute more than 100 persons.

Ludhiana Vigilance officials raid ex-Congress MLA Kuldeep Vaid’s restaurant in Pakhowal area in Ludhiana. (HT Photo)
Updated on Apr 05, 2023 01:21 AM IST

Patiala village sarpanch, 7 panches suspended for bungling 23 crore

The Punjab rural development and panchayats department has suspended the sarpanch and seven panches (members) of Nalas Khurd village in Patiala district for allegedly bungling ₹23 crore during the previous Congress regime

The Punjab rural development and panchayats department has suspended the sarpanch and seven panches (members) of Nalas Khurd village in Patiala district for allegedly bungling <span class='webrupee'>₹</span>23 crore during the previous Congress regime.
Updated on Apr 04, 2023 12:53 AM IST

Sidhu to visit Moose Wala’s house today, to take up law & order issue

A day after being released from Patiala Central Jail, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that he would visit slain singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s residence on Monday

A day after being released from Patiala Central Jail, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu announced that he would visit slain singer Sidhu Moose Wala’s residence on Monday .
Updated on Apr 03, 2023 12:06 AM IST

Out of jail, Navjot Singh Sidhu raps Modi, Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country

Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday evening walked free after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala Central Jail in a 1988 road rage case and targeted the Centre and Punjab government, alleging that democracy is in chains and institutions have turned slaves in the country.
Updated on Apr 02, 2023 01:22 AM IST

Navjot Sidhu meets Congress leaders in Patiala jail, plans post-release strategy

Senior Congress leaders Laal Singh and Mohinder Singh Kaypee visited Navjot Singh Sidhu in Jail. The duo spent almost half an hour with Navjot Singh Sidhu.

On Friday, senior Congress leaders Laal Singh and Mohinder Singh Kaypee visited Navjot Singh Sidhu in jail. (HT File)
Updated on Apr 01, 2023 07:15 AM IST
By, Patiala

1988 road rage case: Navjot Sidhu likely to be released on April 1

Sidhu is likely to get a 45-day remission. His scheduled release from jail was on May 16.

Cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu has been in jail since May 20 last year after the Supreme Court convicted him in a 1988 road rage case, imposing a one-year jail term. (HT File)
Updated on Mar 31, 2023 01:04 AM IST
By, Patiala

Nabha jailbreak impossible without assistance of prison officials: Court

The additional district and sessions judge, HS Grewal, made scathing remarks against the prisons department in his judgment and also listed some measures to improve its functioning

Indicting the Punjab prisons department in the Nabha jailbreak case, a Patiala court said it was not possible to escape without the involvement of officials. (HT file photo)
Published on Mar 27, 2023 09:38 AM IST
By, Patiala

18 Nabha jailbreak convicts get 10-year imprisonment

Seven years after the sensational Nabha maximum security prison break, a Patiala district court on Thursday sentenced 22 accused to jail terms ranging from three to 20 years.

Of the 22 convicts, 18 will undergo 10-year jail term, two 20-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) and another two will spend five years and three years behind the bars (Representational Photo)
Published on Mar 24, 2023 12:51 AM IST

Nabha prison break: Court convicts 22, acquits six

Seven years after the sensational Nabha Maximum Security prison break, a daring act of gangsters which rocked the nation, the district court has convicted 22 accused while acquitting six.

Eight, including two escapees, four executors and Hong Kong-based Romi are still at large. (Representational Photo (Shutterstock) )
Published on Mar 21, 2023 10:51 PM IST

PM security breach: Punjab CM okays penalty for ex-DGP, two senior cops

Chief secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua had moved a file to chargesheet all erring officers, but the CMO only approved the chargesheet of three police officers. Former chief secretary Anirudh Tewari will be issued a show-cause notice

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy stranded on a flyover during his Punjab visit on January 5, 2022. On March 7, 2023, HT was the first to report the findings of the committee, led by retired Supreme Court justice Indu Malhotra, into the security lapses. (HT file photo)
Published on Mar 21, 2023 12:10 PM IST

Himachal Pradesh water cess may raise power tariffs in neighbouring states

The Himachal Pradesh government’s move to impose a water cess on hydropower projects will raise power tariffs by at least ₹1 per unit, which may be contested by states such as Punjab that buy the power

The Himachal Pradesh government on March 14 initiated the formal legislative process to replace with a law the Himachal Pradesh Water Cess on Hydropower Generation Ordinance that was promulgated to impose a levy on hyd-el power generated in the state. (Representative image)
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 04:03 AM IST
ByRajeev Jayaswal, Vishal Rambani & Gaurav Bisht

PM Modi’s Punjab visit: Officers to be charged over security breach

After drawing flak from the Centre over the delay in action on the breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security during his Punjab visit in January last year, the state’s chief secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua said on Monday that all the indicted officers will be charged.

The security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab happened during the tenure of the previous Congress government in the state. (ANI)
Published on Mar 14, 2023 01:14 AM IST
By, Patiala

PM Modi security breach: Govt to chargesheet erring officers, says chief secy

Following flak from the Centre over the delay in action over the breach of security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Punjab visit in January last year, chief secretary Vijay Kumar Januja said that all indicted officers will be chargesheeted.

Irked by the delay, as per the persons in the know of things in the state government, said that the Centre was mulling options to act against the officers under the Special Protection Group (SPG) Act. (ANI file photo)
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 10:35 PM IST
By, Patiala

PM security breach: Centre seeks action-taken report from Punjab

A report of the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during Modi’s Punjab visit on January 5, 2022, which was submitted six months ago, indicted then state chief secretary Anirudh Tewari, police chief S Chattopadhyaya, and other top officers for lapses.

Security breach in PM Modi's convoy in Ferozepur district on January 5, 2022. (ANI)
Updated on Mar 12, 2023 04:19 AM IST

Punjab vigilance bureau issues lookout notice against ex-CM Channi in DA probe

On March 7, chief minister Bhagwant Mann had said in the assembly that Channi was under scanner in the DA case.

Vigilance bureau has issued a lookout circular against former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who is being probed for allegedly amassing wealth more than his known sources of income (HT photo)
Updated on Mar 11, 2023 04:20 AM IST
By, Patiala

PM security breach: 6 months on, no action against former Punjab chief secretary, ex-DGP

Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee cites ‘colossal failure in planning and coordination’; report sent by Centre to AAP govt in September, but CM Bhagwant Mann is yet to act

The convoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was stuck for nearly 30 minutes on a flyover when he was travelling by road from Bathinda airport to Ferozepur on January 5, 2022. (PTI file photo)
Published on Mar 07, 2023 12:46 PM IST

NHM grants only for health and wellness centres: Union minister

In an apparent reference to Punjab government’s flagship Aam Aadmi Clinics, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said the state government will get grant for health and wellness centres under the National Health Mission and not for any other scheme.

Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh along with MLA Ajitpal Kohli, batted for Aam Aadmi Clinics and also raised other health-related demands. (HT Photo)
Published on Mar 05, 2023 10:54 PM IST

Punjab’s power subsidy set to touch whopping 20k-cr next fiscal

The power subsidy payable by Punjab Government to power corporation may cross a whopping ₹20,000 crore as per the revised estimates of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the government’s commitment to clear previous arrears of subsidy in five equal instalments of ₹1,804 crore.

The PSPCL has submitted its projections to the Punjab Finance Department, which is preparing the budget. (HT File Photo)
Published on Mar 01, 2023 01:17 AM IST
By, Patiala

Punjab’s power demand shoots up by 25% with rising temperatures

Even as farmers fear crop loss due to above-normal temperature this season, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited officials are also worried as the power demand has shot up by 25% this February as compared to corresponding period last year.

While the maximum temperatures in Punjab and Haryana have been hovering above normal limits for several days, minimum temperatures too had registered an increase. (AFP File Photo)
Published on Feb 26, 2023 10:45 PM IST

Gangster Teja Mehandpuria, 2 aides killed in an encounter in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib

Two cops, sub-inspector Gurpreet Singh and constable Sukhraj received injuries during the encounter and are presently undergoing treatment

The encounter site in Bassi Pathana town of Fatehgarh Sahib district on Wednesday. (Twitter)
Published on Feb 23, 2023 12:59 AM IST
By, Fatehgarh Sahib

Punjab VB summons former Congress minister Brahm Mohindra in DA case

Brahm Mohindra is sixth former minister being probed for disproportionate assets; the VB arrested Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in a similar case, while former ministers Sham Sunder Arora, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Kangar, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and at least five other Congress leaders are under VB scrutiny for corruption

Brahm Mohindra was minister for health, local bodies, medical education and parliamentary affairs during the Congress rule from 2017-22. He remained a five-time MLA, but did not contest the 2022 assembly elections. (HT file photo)
Updated on Feb 21, 2023 11:43 AM IST

Assets case: Congress leader Dharamsot amassed huge properties in Mohali, Amloh, reveals Punjab vigilance probe

Former forest minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot amassed undisclosed properties in Mohali and Amloh worth crores, reveals the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) probe.

Dharamsot, who was arrested on February 6 by the VB for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, was on February 7 sent to three-day vigilance custody. (Representational Photo)
Updated on Feb 09, 2023 09:38 PM IST

Punjab vigilance arrests former minister Dharamsot in assets case

Punjab vigilance bureau on Monday arrested former minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income

Punjab vigilance bureau on Monday arrested former minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. (HT photo)
Published on Feb 07, 2023 01:14 AM IST
By, Patiala

Preneet Kaur takes on Tariq Anwar over show-cause notice

A defiant Patiala Congress MP and former minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur on Monday hit back at the party’s disciplinary action committee member secretary Tariq Anwar for issuing her a show-cause notice for anti-party activities and dared the party “to take whatever action it wants to”.

The Congress disciplinary committee on February 3 suspended Preneet . (HT file photo)
Published on Feb 07, 2023 12:01 AM IST
SHARE
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • ...
Story Saved
Live Score
×
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
My Offers
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Saturday, June 03, 2023
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Register Free and get Exciting Deals