BHUBANESWAR l thursday l july 23, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late CITY EDITION after major legal victory, lalit Modi plans India visit Relief from Appellate Tribunal Former IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, who has been living away from the country for over 15 years, “wants to move on in my life” after relief ‘I have fought for 16 years’ A tribunal has set aside penalties imposed by ED over long-running case with respect to SAFEMA ACT over conducting IPL in South Africa in 2009. It held that the foreign remittances in question were current account transactions and did not require prior RBI approval. It also ruled that Lalit Modi was not responsible for ensuring the BCCI's compliance with FEMA ■ ■ After the ruling, Lalit Modi said: “Sixteen years I have fought and whatever I have been saying to the media and to everybody has finally emerged as the truth” On social media, the 52-year-old added: “I’m going to move on in my life and I’m looking forward to coming back to India” 2010 lalit Modi moved to london after BCCI suspended him in 2010 CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Trump threatens 200% tariff on generic drugs nounced plans to impose a 100% tariff on imported branded and patented medicines. However, the proposal was later revised. In April this year, the Trump administration announced tariffs of up to 100% on specified branded medicines and key pharmaceutical ingredients under the Section 232 national security framework, while exempting generic medicines. Trump’s latest announcement, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing, has raised concerns among Indian drug manufacturers, which are among the largest exporters of generic medicines to the US market. In its initial response to the development, the Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance said tariffs alone will not help build a sustainable generic drug manufacturing base in the US. According to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories’ CEO Erez Israeli, the move will increase drug prices in the US and it is not practical to move operations there. India exported pharmaceuticals worth $25.8 billion in 2025, of which drugs worth $9.7 billion were shipped to the US. P U S H PI TA D E Y @ New Delhi US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200% on generic pharmaceutical imports unless manufacturers shift production of those drugs to the US. Under the proposed pharmaceutical tariff regime, generic drug exporters worldwide have been given two years to shift production to the US, failing which a 100% tariff will be imposed from August 2028 and 200% from August 2029. “Effective August 1, 2026, all Generic Drugs being brought into the United States will continue to have a tariff of zero percent for a twoyear period, after which the tariff will be raised to 100% for a one-year period, and 200% thereafter. This is done in order to reshore Generic Pharmaceutical Production into America, with a penalty to those Companies that decide not to build Plant and Equipment within the stated period of time given to them,” Trump said in a social media post. In September last year, the Trump administration had an- Spotlight on Commonwealth Games Pared-back edition of quadrennial international multisport event to begin with Opening on Thursday Nation’s eyes on weightlifting & athletics Weightlifting, a medal-rich discipline for the country, could be the main source for gold this time thanks to the likes of Mirabai Chanu, India’s flag-bearer for the Opening Ceremony. In athletics, Neeraj Chopra is bound to grab eyeballs | P13 Passing the baton to India India will receive Games’ flag during the Closing Ceremony as they are the next hosts in 2030 (Ahmedabad). Prime Minister Narendra Modi may attend Closing Ceremony India’s strength 13 disciplines No. of athletes 78 men 48 women Dates: July 23 to August 2 | 10 Sports, 6 para sports in 4 venues | 215 medal events Terror attack Policeman on Amarnath Yatra duty shot dead Faya z Wan i @ Srinagar In the first terrorist attack in Kashmir since last year’s Pahalgam massacre, a policeman posted on Amarnath Yatra security duty was shot dead in Anantnag on Wednesday . The police said a gunman fired from close range at head constable Ashiq Hussain Qureshi in the Lal Chowk area of Anantnag around 12.30 pm. Qureshi was shot from behind. He was rushed to the Government Medical College, Anantna g, where doctors deAshiq Hussain Qureshi clared him brought | Zahoor Punajabi dead. The Resistance Front (TRF), an off-shoot of Lashkar-e-Toiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Soon after the attack, the security forces launched a massive anti-terror crackdown across the Valley detaining over , 2,000 suspected overground workers. The attack was caught on CCTV. In the video grab, a gunman wearing a black cap is purportedly seen firing on a policeman. A major manhunt is on to locate the attacker. Lok Sabha Speaker asks Parliamentary Affairs minister to issue a statement following repeated House disruptions, urges Opposition to engage in debate instead of ruckus d ay ' s d e v e l o p m e n t s 1 CJP made it clear that it will hold talks with the Centre only at or near Jantar Mantar 2 Delhi HC asks police to preserve CCTV footage of alleged brutality against protesters 3 Sonam Wangchuk to end his hunger strike if Centre assures no action against youth Members of the Opposition stage a protest on the ongoing NEET controversy in the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon Session in New Delhi on Wednesday | pTI 4 Delhi Police is using facial recognition system to identify suspects at the protest site 5 A total of 17 metro stations, including Rajiv Chowk were shut citing security issues 6 Centre has shifted 20 additional CRPF companies from West Bengal to Delhi amid protests Cockroach Janta Party supporters surrounded by a haze of tear gas late on Wednesday night during the protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi | Parveen negi Govt offers NEET talk in LS, Oppn says sack education minister first p r eetha na i r @ New Delhi AS Parliament remained paralysed for the third consecutive day over the NEET controversy , the government on Wednesday said it is prepared for a detailed discussion in the Lok Sabha, even as the Opposition refused to relent unless Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigns. As proceedings in the Lower House were disrupted as soon as it reassembled at noon following an earlier adjournment, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla asked Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to issue a statement. However, Congress leader K C Venugopal intervened to reiterate the Opposition’s demand for Pradhan’s resignation. “Our demand is simple. When the entire nation is feeling the pain of our students, all other business of the House should be set aside and this Rahul: 152 exam paper leaks, no convictions Nadda: Don’t indulge in selective outrage Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the government of destroying India’s education system saying that there was not one conviction though 152 cases of paper leak happened in past 10 years. Gandhi said the education system is not only rigged, but also unaffordable Union minister J P Nadda on Wednesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of playing politics over the NEET paper leak. “Why are you so selective. Why did you not discuss about the paper leaks that took place in the Congress and INDI alliancegoverned states?” he said burning issue should be top priority for Parliament,” Venugopal said. Referring to the alleged police action against the protesting students on Monday, Venugopal said their demand is that Pradhan should resign first. After the minister’s resignation, the issue can be discussed through an ad- journment motion, he said. In his response, Rijiju said the government is willing to debate the NEET paper leak issue in detail. He said the Speaker would hold consultations with floor leaders of political parties to decide the rule under which the discussion would take place, along with its date and duration. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav expressed displeasure that while BJP and Congress members were allowed to speak, he was not given an opportunity . He maintained that when the interests of youth and students are affected, the Opposition is justified in taking the protest to the streets as well. “This is not an issue of Congress, SP BJP , ... this is an issue of students, youths. The way the government has behaved... students were thrashed. We were compelled to hold a protest outside the PM’s residence. Why can’t the PM give a statement in the House when he can make statements outside?” he asked. Addressing the House, Birla said he had heard the views of all sides and noted the government’s willingness to discuss the issue with an open mind. He urged Opposition members to participate in a debate instead of disrupting proceedings. Pandian gets police summon over missing Pawar meets inquiry reports, asked to appear on July 25 Modi in Delhi amid buzz over joining NDA E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhubaneswar Odisha Police on Wednesday issued a notice to VK Pandian, former IAS officer and trusted aide of Naveen Patnaik, directing him to appear for questioning in connection with the high-profile case involving the alleged disappearance of two crucial inquiry reports from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO). In the notice, investigating officer Bipin Bihari Hota of Capital police station asked Pandian to appear at the office of the Zone-I ACP on July 25 (Saturday) at 11 am. The notice stated that, during the course of the investigation, information had emerged suggesting that Pandian might be acquainted with the facts and circumstances surrounding the case. The former BJD leader has been asked to cooperate with the investigation and produce any relevant documents, records, electronic devices or other materials in his possession that During the course of the investigation, information had emerged suggesting that Pandian might be acquainted with the facts and circumstances surrounding the case Police notice may assist the probe. Pandian, who transitioned from the Indian Administrative Service to active politics with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), served as Naveen’s private secretary during the last three tenures of the former CM. Pandian is the third person associated with the previous dispensation to have been summoned in connection with the missing reports case. Earlier, former principal secretary to the CMO Rajesh Verma and former IT secretary Manoj Mishra were issued notices. While Mishra appeared before Capital police on July 18, Verma is yet to appear, police sources said. He had been asked to appear on Wednesday . The missing files include two highly sensitive inquiry reports the Justice A.S. Naidu Commission report on the 2008 Kandhamal riots and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) inquiry report into the 2016 SUM Hospital fire tragedy . On June 10, an FIR was registered over allegations of the intentional removal, concealment or destruction of official records. Police have maintained that the investigation is being conducted thoroughly and impartially . Interestingly, the notice to Pandian comes a day after Naveen sharply criticised the police action against the students protesting against NEET examination paper leak at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. express read Similipal TR nominated for global CA|TS accreditation Ganjam woman tests +ve: State’s first Covid case Bhubaneswar: The state government has sought registration and accreditation of Similipal Tiger Reserve (STR) under the Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) framework, a globally recognised benchmark for excellence in tiger conservation and protected area management | P2 Berhampur: Odisha reported its first Covid-19 case this year on Wednesday after a 54-year-old woman from Purushottampur in Ganjam district tested positive for the virus. The woman is currently undergoing treatment at MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur | P5 Anurag Jain appointed new NITI Aayog CEO New Delhi: 1980-batch IAS officer Anurag Jain has been appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog. Nidhi Chhibber, Director General of NITI Aayog’s Development Monitoring & Evaluation Office, is currently holding the post after former CEO B V R Subramaniyam’s tenure expired in February. Peace along LAC key to India-China relations J ayanth J a c o b @ New Delhi External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) remains the “pre-requisite” for normal India-China ties, even as he called for addressing long-standing concerns over market access, trade imbalance and supply chain predictability . The meeting, held on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and ASEAN Regional Forum in Manila, came as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise bilateral relations following the prolonged military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Reviewing the trajectory of ties since the October 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in Kazan, Jaishankar said relations had been “gradually normalising”. “Peace and tranquility in the border areas is obviously the pre-requisite for normal ties. Since October 2024, both sides have engaged to ensure that this important objective is met. This will continue to need our constant attention,” he said. He said important economic issues still needed attention. “Fair market access and a trade balance rank high in that regard. There are also concerns about predictability of supply chains,” Jaishankar said. S Jaishankar meets Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Manila, Philippines | PTI Amid speculation of NCP(SP) extending support to the NDA, former Union minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday met PM Narendra Modi and discussed a wide range of issues | P8