bengaluru l friday l september 26, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 50 l late city EDITION BCCI complains against Farhan, Rauf for provocative gestures The BCCI had complained to the ICC against Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan for the gestures they made during their Super 4s match versus India india captain sURYA ATTENDS hearing PCB CHIEF NAQVI’S POST sparks OUTRAGE Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav was on Thursday told to refrain from making any comments that could be construed as political in nature by the ICC match referee Richie Richardson during an official hearing. The Pakistan Cricket Board had complained against Suryakumar’s post-match press conference after a Group A match between the two teams ■ ■ On Wednesday, PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi posted a video of Cristiano Ronaldo making a fighter jet gesture during his goal celebration Naqvi, the current head of the Asian Cricket Council, is also the country’s interior minister and his gesture has generated outrage. His post in question, however, has been withheld in India | P17 FRIDAY Is when ICC match referee will hold hearing against Rauf & farhan 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 Fleet upgrade: Deal for 97 Tejas Mk1A firmed up with HAL Day after, axe falls on FCRA licence of Wangchuk’s NGO MHA cites financial irregularities and violation of norms by SECMOL M AYA NK SINGH @ New Delhi MUKESH R A NJ A N & Faya z Wa n i IN the face of fast depleting combat squadrons of the Indian Air Force, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has inked a deal with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for 97 LCA Mk1A aircraft (68 fighters & 29 Twin Seaters) with associated equipment for the Air Force (IAF) at `62,370 crore. It was only last month that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) gave its nod for the production of Tejas Mk1A, the newer and improved version of India’s single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency . Tejas Mk1A will play an important role in mitigating the decrease in the quantity of combat jets and the overall dip in the number of combat squadrons. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) had given its approval in November 2023. Tejas is a multirole platform designed to undertake air defence, maritime reconnaissance and strike roles. The A day after violent protests in Ladakh killed four persons and injured many the Ministry of Home , Affairs (MHA) on Thursday cancelled the FCRA licence of Students’ Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), founded by activist Sonam Wangchuk who was on hunger strike seeking special rights and statehood for the Union Territory . While cancelling the licence, the MHA cited several alleged discrepancies in the accounts of SECMOL, including a fund transfer from Sweden that was “against national interest”. M e a n wh i l e, t h e C BI h a s launched a probe into the alleged violations of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, or FCRA, nor ms, by SECMOL and the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), also linked to Wangchuk. While no FIR has been registered, sources said CBI officials have been camping in Ladakh for the past week, scrutinising financial records of SECMOL and HIAL. Sources added that the probe was initiated after the agen- @ New Delhi / Srinagar LCA Mk-1A will have updated avionics, an updated electronic warfare suite and a beyond visual range missile capability. The new variant will be capable of firing a number of weapons from increased stand-off ranges. The MoD informed, “The advanced LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) Mk1A integrates Uttam active electronically steered radar (AESA) Radar, Swayam Raksha Kavach and control actuators, with 64%+ indigenous content and 67 new indigenous items.” “Supported by 105 suppliers, the project will generate 11,750 jobs/ year over six years. Deliveries will start in 2027-28, boosting IAF capability, Atmanirbhar Bharat (self reliance) and India’s defence preparedness,” MoD added. A man passes by the charred remains outside the BJP office building in Leh, on Thursday | PTI Hold talks with people of Ladakh, says Farooq Opposition parties on Thursday said the Centre must hold talks with the people of Ladakh to restore order. “Hold talks, don’t talk about holding talks,” said NC chief Farooq Abdullah | P12 cy received a complaint from MHA about alleged receipt of foreign funds in violation of rules. Curfew remained in force on Thursday in the violence hit-Leh district of Ladakh while a complete shutdown was observed in the neighbouring Kargil district demanding statehood and special rights. Almost all shops, business Not interested in asserting ourselves on Kashmir: US kj george gets Clean chit in dysp suicide case The state cabinet has accepted the Justice KN Keshava Narayana panel report that there is no evidence against the energy minister in suicide of DySP MK Ganapathy | P4 PTI @ New York Bhyrappa’s will on last rites creates flutter E x p r e s s N e w s S e r v i c e @ Mysuru Drama unfolded during the public viewing of the mortal remains of celebrated writer and novelist SL Bhyrappa at the Kalamandir premises in Mysuru on Thursday. The body which was brought from Bengaluru earlier in the day , , was kept for the public to pay homage. However, the solemn atmosphere turned tense following claims about a will the writer had reportedly executed regarding his final rites. The public viewing and final farewell to the ‘Saraswathi Samman’ was going on in a routine manner till 5.30pm, when it was marred by confusion after a copy of his will surfaced, detailing his wishes regarding his last rites. The will went viral on social media and was circulated among his readers and fans. Bhyrappa had allegedly executed the will in July 2025, at the office of the Additional Sub-Registrar, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru, stating that his two sons, Uday Shankar and Ravi Shankar, should not perform his last rites.  continued on p4 Kashmir is a “direct issue” between India and Pakistan and the US has no interest in “asserting” itself between the South Asian neighbours on the matter, a senior State Department official said here on Wednesday The official said it is a . longstanding policy of the US that Kashmir is a direct issue between India and Pakistan, adding if the US is asked to offer its good offices on any issue, it would be ready to help. US President Donald Trump has “enough crises” on his hands and “we leave that (issue of Kashmir) up to India and Pakistan to solve,” the official said. “We have no interest in asserting ourselves between India and Pakistan,” echoing New Delhi’s position against third-party mediation on Kashmir. As for Operation Sindoor, the official said, “it is a fact that the US was involved in that crisis and absolutely helped broker that ceasefire.” The official also said President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share a “very, very positive” relationship and will meet, adding plans were underway for the next Quad Summit, expected either later this year or in early 2026. India will host leaders from the US, Australia, and Japan for the Quad summit. The 2024 edition of the summit was held in the US at Wilmington, Delaware. “In terms of meetings coming soon, I certainly don’t want to get ahead of announcing anything for the President, but I’m sure you’ll see the two meet,” the official said. No, chief minister Siddu proposes, Azim Premji disposes A k n i s r e e Ka r t h i k @ Bengaluru Wipro Founder Chairman Azim Premji turned down CM Siddaramaiah’s request to permit public vehicles through its campus on Bengaluru’s Outer Ring Road (ORR), to cut down traffic at Iblur Junction. Public vehicular movement through private property would not be “an effective, sustainable, longterm solution”, Premji replied in a letter addressed to the CM, dated September 24. The IT czar, in turn, batted for a comprehensive, scientific study led by an entity with world-class expertise in urban Azim Premji and CM Siddaramaiah | PTI transport management to develop a holistic roadmap of effective solutions. He also said that Wipro will underwrite a significant portion of the cost for this expert study . To curb the severe traffic congestion at Iblur Junction on the ORR, the CM had sought Wipro’s permission to allow limited vehicular movement through its campus. In his letter addressed to Premji on September 19, the CM had said that preliminary assessments by traffic and urban mobility experts indicate that if Wipro opens its campus to vehicular movement, it could reduce traffic on its adjoining stretches by 30 per cent, particularly during peak office hours. “As stated in your letter, urgent and effective measures are indeed required for the traffic situation, particularly along the Outer Ring Road, being an export-oriented economic hub,” Premji said in the latter. P2 Wipro’s contract rules rule On declining the CM’s request to open up the Wipro campus for traffic, Azim Premji said Wipro’s contractual rules mandate nonnegotiable access control norms for its clients. establishments, and government offices remained shut while traffic was off roads. Police detained around 40 persons in connection with Wednesday’s violence. Leh Apex Body (LAB) co-chairman Chering Dorjey said some LAB members may also have been detained. The MHA has blamed Wangchuk for inciting violence, while the latter termed the government action a witch-hunt against him. “I don’t fear detention and police can come anytime to arrest me,” said the influential activist. There are speculations that Wangchuk, recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, may be booked under Public Safety Act and detained. HC nod for socio-economic survey, bar on disclosing data Yat h i r a j u @ Bengaluru THE Karnataka High Court on Thursday declined to stay the Socio-Economic and Educational Survey-2025 being conducted by the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes. The court has, however, imposed certain conditions, taking into consideration the apprehension expressed by the petitioners that the collection of personal information is an intrusion into the right to privacy , and there is no safeguard for the data. “We do not consider apposite to interdict the survey,” said a division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi in the order passed after concluding the hearing on a batch of petitions filed by Rajya Vokkaligara Sangha, Akhila Karnataka Brahmana Mahasabha, advocate KN Subbareddy and others questioning the legality , of the survey which was launched on September 22.  P4 ,