hyderabad l wednesday l september 09, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE City EDITION SC to consider issues related to Delhi hostel collapse on Sept 10 The Supreme Court was hearing a plea seeking a direction for a time-bound inspection and safety audit of PG accommodations in Delhi sc likely to transfer case from delhi hc amicus curiae files status report An SC bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and R Mahdevan said it may transfer the case being dealt with by the Delhi HC. On Monday, the HC ordered a high-level inquiry into the tragedy. The SC bench on Tuesday said the issues dealt with by the Delhi HC are “serious” and overlap with the case already being heard by it on a pan-India basis ■ ■ Senior advocate Ajit Sinha, amicus curiae in the matter considered by SC, said she has inspected the site along with a professor from IIT and MCD officials and filed a status report in this regard Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi government, termed the Sunday tragedy as “most unfortunate” 2022 Another satya niketan building collapse had left two people dead 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 India, China hold talks in Arunachal J a v a r i a R a n a @ New Delhi INDIA and China have held their first Corps Commanderlevel flag meeting in the eastern sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), with the first engagement taking place at Wacha on the Indian side in Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday and the second talk at Damai on the Chinese side on Monday , the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday . The engagement, described by MEA as the first “Senior Highest Military CommanderLevel Flag Meeting” in the eastern sector, comes ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s expected visit to India for the BRICS summit later this week, as New Delhi and Beijing seek to consolidate the thaw in ties following the 2020 military confrontation in eastern Ladakh. def, trade ties to get big Modi-Putin meet push Bilateral on Friday on sidelines of BRICS Summit amid record Russian energy supplies J aya n t h J a c o b @ New Delhi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet on Friday ahead of the BRICS Summit, their second bilateral in weeks, with the talks set to give fresh momentum to the India-Russia partnership across energy, defence, trade and strategic cooperation. The meeting comes amid record levels of Russian energy supplies to India, discussions on expanding defence cooperation and efforts to address longstanding payment issues in bilateral trade. Putin will attend the BRICS Summit on September 12-13. Ahead of the visit, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said India-Russia energy cooperation was continuing to reach Man fakes PMO ID card Mumbai police arrested two men at a PM Modi event venue after one of them, Rohan Parekh, used a forged PMO identity card to enter with bodyguard Dilip Kundre, carrying a licensed gun. The lawyer of the accused said his visit was only a “private” affair new highs. “Every month we have a new record,” Peskov said, while declining to disclose figures. Defence cooperation is also expected to feature prominently, with Russia signalling readiness to discuss the supply and possible technology transfer of advanced platforms, including the Su-57 fighter and S-500 air de- A file photo of PM Narendra Modi and Vladimir Putin | File pic fence system. “We have very good military equipment and are willing to offer it to the Indian side,” Peskov said. He indicated that Moscow was prepared to discuss India’s demand for technology transfer in connection with the Su-57. Peskov also suggested that the two countries could deepen joint defence production, citing the BrahMos programme as a model. The two sides are also working to resolve accumulated rupee balances arising from bilateral trade, while exploring closer cooperation in rare-earth exploration, an area with growing strategic significance for both countries. Peskov also said Moscow broadly shares India’s position that the conflict must be resolved peacefully. “We do want a solution of the Ukrainian conflict by peaceful means.” The leaders are also expected to discuss security, counterterrorism, drugs and space cooperation. India has separately raised the issue of its nationals serving in the Russian military . Peskov said a list was being compiled and those identified would be sent home. On BRICS, the Kremlin spokesperson rejected the characterisation of the group as anti-Western, saying it was based on trust, respect and benefit. ED seeks fresh FIR against Pinarayi in CMRL bribery case J O S E K J O S EPH & S HAN A S @ Kochi/T’Puram BRS MLA T Harish Rao makes a point during his heated exchange with Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, in the Assembly on Tuesday Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar gestures during a heated exchange Marshals stop BRS MLCs T Madhu and N Naveen from addressing reporters at the media with BRS MLA T Harish Rao in the Legislative Assembly on Tuesday point meant for legislators, after they were suspended from the Council on Tuesday Two BRS MLCs suspended for slurs G Ram Mohan/S Bachan Jeet S i n g h @ Hyderabad BRS MLCs T Madhusudhan alias Madhu and N Naveen Kumar Reddy were suspended from the Telangana Legislative Council for the remainder of the session on Tuesday for their derogatory remarks against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. The Council unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Legislative Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu, following a resolution in the Assembly seeking action against the two MLCs. The action came amid a heated exchange between Gaddam Prasad and BRS MLA T Harish Rao in the Assembly over alleged police high-handedness against BRS women MLAs during Monday’s protest. Harish Rao questioned whether the Speaker had no responsibility to act against the police officers, prompting Gaddam Prasad to respond by referring to the remarks allegedly made by Madhu against him and his mother. Harish Rao said he was anguished over the treatment of BRC MLCs arrested, released on bail Hyderabad: BRS MLCs Tata Madhusudhan alias Madhu and N Naveen Kumar Reddy were arrested by Saifabad police for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Monday and released on conditional bail on Tuesday | P4 his women colleagues, alleging that a woman’s saree was pulled and that police behaved in a high-handed manner with P Sabita Indra Reddy He said . the BRS had complained to the Police Commissioner, but cases were instead registered against Sabita Indra Reddy Sunita , Laxma Reddy and other women MLAs. The Speaker said the House had always respected its women members. Harish Rao said the BRS women MLAs were like his sisters and that he was angry over the police action. He said a report had been I should be angry, not you. The comments were not against your mother; they were against my mother. How can you be angry? You cannot control me with your threats Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar to BRS MLA T Harish Rao sought on the incident. Sridhar Babu said Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the Speaker had sought a report and that action would be taken after its submission. The exchange turned personal when Gaddam Prasad referred to the remarks by Madhu. “I should be angry not , you. The comments were not against your mother; they were against my mother. I should be angry How can you . be angry? You cannot control me with your threats,” the Speaker told Harish Rao. Panchayat Raj Minister Dan- asri Anasuya (Seethakka) said the facts surrounding Monday’s incident should come out and alleged that the BRS had put women MLAs at the front, while BRS working president KT Rama Rao had also misbehaved with policewomen. Earlier, the Assembly had adopted a resolution moved by Health and Family Welfare Minister Damodara Rajanarsimha and seconded by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, directing that all evidence relating to Madhu and Naveen Kumar Reddy be sent to the Legislative Council for action. Panel Speaker Vakiti Srihari presided over the proceedings when the resolution was adopted. Vikramarka said: “Remarks against Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar are a lasting blot on democracy It is not merely an . insult to an individual but to the entire legislature. The Speaker comes from a Dalit background, which is an additional matter of honour, but it is not appropriate to view him merely as a ‘Dalit Speaker’. He is the Speaker of the entire Legislative Assembly  continued on p4 .” Fresh case against BRS legislators based on woman cop’s comlaint | p4 Gaddam: Speaker jurisdiction over Public Garden too e n s @ Hyderabad Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar on Tuesday said he had expected former minister and BRS leader Harish Rao to apologise over Monday’s incident, but alleged that the Opposition tried to divert the issue. Responding to claims that the matter was outside his jurisdiction, he said, “How can you say it is not within the Speaker’s purview? From Public Garden onwards, it comes under our jurisdiction.” “We thought Harish would apologise once he was given the mike. But they were engaged in diverting the issue. That is why one has to get angry he said during an informal in,” teraction with the media. The Speaker said he could take action against BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy and other members, including suspension, but “that is not the proper way”. Prasad Kumar said he would speak to Floor leaders before the next day’s proceedings. He also said he had invited former Chief Minister and BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao to attend the Assembly but KCR , had cited health reasons. the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has asked the Kerala Police to register a separate corruption case against Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, his son-in-law and MLA P A Mohamed Riyas, and daughter T Veena over alleged bribe transactions linked to Cochin Minerals and Rutile Ltd (CMRL). The agency has forwarded its findings and supporting evidence from the money-laundering probe to State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar, seeking registration of an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act and other relevant provisions. Chandrasekhar told TNIE that he had received ED’s communication. “We are assessing the report and will seek legal opinion.” Though no formal announcement has been made, the government has, in-principle, decided to hand over the matter to the vigilance and anticorruption bureau (VACB). Sources said legal opinion has been sought on whether the VACB can directly register a case under the PCA or it should conduct a preliminary inquiry before registering an FIR. Since Pinarayi and Riyas are public servants, a prior approval from the state government is required to conduct a probe against them. Government sanction is also required to register an FIR against them. The ED’s recommendation marks a major expansion of its CMRL-Exalogic probe, which initially focused on payments totalling `2.78 crore made by CMRL to Exalogic Solutions, a now-defunct company owned by Veena. The payments were shown as being towards IT and consultancy services, which the ED alleged were bribe money . E x p r e s s Re a d Asiad: Indian hockey teams to wear blue jersey New Delhi: The Indian hockey teams will revert to their traditional blue jerseys for the upcoming Asian Games. They had earlier shifted to a orange coloured kit during the World Cup, leading to a massive controversy. Now, in line with the contingent, Indian teams will stick to blue as their primary jersey colour for the Asian Games. Eiffel Tower reopens after 1-day strike The monument was closed for a day after its staff went on strike over women being asked to leave during a visit by BAPS delegation | P7 Cabinet nod awaited Decks cleared for satellite broadband services in India R AKE S H KUMA R @ New Delhi Risky Rescue op Video clip of a leopard knocking a forest dept official to the ground during a rescue mission in Karnataka’s Davanagere. The animal was hurt after it was hit by a car on a highway. The official’s team members quickly intervened and saved him | Express IN a move that could bring satellite communication services closer to commercial launch in India, the Digital Communications Commission (DCC), the apex decision-making body for telecommunications and digital policies at the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has approved a spectrum usage charge of 5% of adjusted gross revenue (AGR) for satellite communication services. Service providers await security clearance The Digital Communications Commission’s decision paves the way for the govt to allocate spectrum to Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb and Jio Satellite Communications, subject to them meeting security and other regulatory clearances With this decision, the government can now move ahead with spectrum assignment for satellite communication companies such as Starlink, Eutelsat OneWeb, and Amazon Leo to launch commercial services in India. The charge will be lower at 4% of AGR for operators providing services in rural and remote areas. DoT will now move the proposal through the Inter-Minis- terial Committee and then seek Cabinet nod. The DCC has also approved spectrum assignment for five years with an option for a twoyear extension. Telecom regulator Trai had recommended 4% of AGR spectrum usage charge, along with an additional `500 per urban subscriber per year for nongeostationary satellite orbitbased satellite services with rural and remote subscribers being exempt from the additional levy . However, the DoT rejected the per-subscriber charge, citing difficulties in distinguishing between rural and urban users. It also rejected the proposal to subsidise rural users.