News / Author / Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.

Articles by Vishal Rambani

On a high, private drug rehab centres under cloud in Punjab

Vigilance Bureau probe finds medicines intended for treating addiction, particularly tablets containing Buprenorphine and Naloxone, being misappropriated and sold in black by more than 60% private drug de-addiction centres in state; seeks cancellation of licences.

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 21, 2025 08:40 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Additional chief secretary K Siva Prasad seeks VRS, Centre gives nod

A 1993-batch IAS officer, K Siva Prasad had sought premature retirement during former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh’s tenure also but later withdrew his request

One of the seniormost bureaucrats of the Punjab cadre, K Siva Prasad, a 1993-batch IAS officer, posted as additional chief secretary with the governor of Punjab, has officially been granted voluntary retirement. His resignation was accepted by the department of personnel and training (DoPT), Government of India, said people in the know of the matter. (Sourced)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 21, 2025 07:48 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab MLAs, ministers to boost AAP’s Delhi poll campaign

Delhi goes to poll on February 5 and AAP has mobilized its full organisational strength, assigning campaign duties to cabinet ministers, MLAs, party office bearers, newly elected councillors, volunteers, and workers from Punjab.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal with Delhi CM Atishi, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann and party leader Sanjay Singh speak to the media after the meeting with Election Commission of India ahead of the Delhi Assembly Elections at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on Thursday. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 10, 2025 08:54 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Green energy purchase: Punjab’s loss is Himachal’s gain

After Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission rejects deal, hill state swiftly signs PPA with Solar Energy Corporation of India to buy 900MW of wind-solar hybrid power

Himachal Pradesh has secured 900MW of green energy by swiftly approving the purchase of wind-solar hybrid power from the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a deal rejected earlier by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC). (HT Photo)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 08, 2025 07:38 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Punjab developers found taking RERA for a ride

GST raids reveal land pooling agreements were made without actual land, and the Expression of Interest model was used to secure early investments from buyers, even before securing necessary approvals

GST raids were carried out against four prominent builders in Punjab. (HT File/Image for representational purposes only)

Chandigarh

Updated on Jan 06, 2025 07:28 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

VB to move SC against HC order to quash FIRs in PSIEC, foodgrain scams

The high court struck down FIRs, citing procedural lapses and insufficient grounds for prosecution. However, VB claims judgment did not consider evidence submitted in the chargesheet before trial court.

The vigilance bureau will approach the Supreme Court (in pic) to challenge the Punjab and Haryana high court’s December 20 decision to quash cases registered in the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC) and foodgrain transportation scams. (HT file photo)

Chandigarh

Published on Jan 01, 2025 04:47 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani

Ropar’s 800 MW power plant stuck in limbo for 7 years

The project was announced in 2017 to replace the aging units, which were contributing to high power generation costs, boost the state’s energy output and provide cleaner power at a reduced cost.

Punjab had in 2017 dismantled four units of Guru Nanak Dev thermal plant in Bathinda and two units of 210 MW power at Ropar for its high generation costs. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 30, 2024 07:00 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Anti-encroachment drive in panchayats: Punjab rural dept falls short of 2024 targets

In 2024, Punjab's panchayat department reclaimed only 585 acres of illegally occupied land, far below the 10,000-acre target, amid election disruptions.

As per sources, over 90,000 acres of panchayat land is still in possession of land mafia in the state.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 29, 2024 06:26 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

MC polls: Phagwara, Amritsar only bright spots for Cong

In Amritsar, the party is 6 short of a majority, while it needs the support of three more councillors to elect a mayor in Phagwara

Congress claims that in Amritsar, the party has the support of three councillors taking its tally to 43, while in Phagwara, it has secured a majority with three councillors extending support in the 50-seat House.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 24, 2024 09:06 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

MC polls: Amritsar goes to Congress, AAP wrests Patiala

Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the single-largest party in Ludhiana and Jalandhar; Congress a whisker away from majority in Phagwara; BJP, SAD fail to bag even a single civic body

Elderly voters being taken to a polling station in Jalandhar on Saturday. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 22, 2024 06:42 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

High-octane campaigning for MC polls comes to end

During the Lok Sabha elections, the AAP lost urban voters to the BJP and the Congress. The AAP, which won three out of the four recent held assembly by-polls, is trying to regain the urban vote bank.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann during a roadshow in Jalandhar. (ANI)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 20, 2024 09:36 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Amid row over IPS elevations, Punjab chief secy green-lights 2 IAS officers’ promotion

Once the latest promotions are finalised, Punjab will have 11 officers with the rank of chief secretary and additional chief secretary.

Two 1995-batch IAS officers due for promotion are Jaspreet Talwar and Dilip Kumar, who have completed 40 years of service.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 17, 2024 09:10 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab chief secretary slams brakes on promotion of eight ADGPs as DGPs

At present, as per gradation list of IPS officers, available on the Punjab police website, 15 IPS officers have a rank of DGP out of which — Parag Jain (additional secretary) and Harpreet Sidhu, are serving on central deputation.

Punjab already has 15 DGPs, and if these officers are promoted, the strength will go up to 23.

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 15, 2024 06:04 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab civic body elections: 2,231 file nominations across 5 MCs

For 95 seats in Ludhiana, 682 candidates filed their papers, 173 for 60 seats in Patiala, 448 for 85 seats in Jalandhar, 219 for 50 seats in Phagwara and 709 for 85 seats in Amritsar.

Punjab Youth Congress president Mohit Mohindra (left) and others outside the district administrative complex during a melee amid nomination filing process in Patiala on Thursday. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 13, 2024 09:16 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

PSPCL profits only on paper as subsidy burden mounts

Power corporation earns ₹2, 685 cr profit between April and September, govt owes it ₹6,000 crore against subsidies

PSPCL remains in poor financial straits, having to float short-term loans to meet day-to-day expenses, as the Punjab government has been faltering on reimbursing it for the power subsidies. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Dec 12, 2024 07:28 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Court attaches salary of Union forest ministry’s under secretary

The court of additional sessions judge, Mohali, Harsimranjit Singh passed orders as he found an application seeking more time to decide the approval for sanction of prosecution.

Chauhan was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for his alleged involvement in bribery and embezzlement (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Nov 27, 2024 10:51 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

SC notice to Punjab govt, UT over Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary

The plea comes after the Punjab department of forest and wildlife protection moved a proposal to the state cabinet to declare a 3-kilometre area around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) before sending it to the central government for notification

As per Supreme Court directives, permanent structures cannot be constructed within an eco-sensitive zone for any purpose. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 27, 2024 07:14 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Big relief for PSPCL as it wins legal battle against Nabha plant

The victory in the legal battle, which started in 2012, will now lead to ₹2,500 crore saving for the PSPCL as the power corporation is deducting 9.4 paise per unit from the NPL since it started operation.

Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) has won a decade-long battle against Nabha Power Limited (NPL) as the Supreme Court (SC) has rejected the plea of the private thermal plant to grant it the benefits of a mega power project. (Representational image)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 26, 2024 07:04 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab bypoll: Setback for Congress as it fails to retain bastions

For Congress, which clinched seven out of the 13 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, the defeats particularly in Gidderbaha and Dera Baba Nanak will sting the most as both the seats were represented by Congress heavyweights state unit chief and Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and former deputy CM and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, respectively.

Congress’ Kuldeep Singh Dhillon (left) with party leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Balbir Singh Sidhu after the win. (Sourced)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 24, 2024 08:14 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Eyeing mass votes, parties scramble to woo religious sects

Due to their presence in large numbers and tendency to vote en masse, sect followers have potential to sway the electoral outcome.

In Barnala and Gidderbaha, Dera Sacha Sauda followers are present in large numbers while the Christian community holds sway in Dera Baba Nanak. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 19, 2024 06:30 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab: Prestige battle: Warring, Randhawa go all out to garner votes for their spouses

The bypolls to the four assembly seats – Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala — will take place on November 20 and the counting of votes will be held on November 23.

During campaigning, Warring, in a bid to woo voters, said: “If Congress forms the next government, I will be there to ensure that we have a state that works for everyone. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 18, 2024 05:24 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Notify civic body polls within 2 weeks: Supreme Court to Punjab

The directions came while hearing the Punjab government petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana high court order asking the state to declare the poll schedule for five municipal corporations and 42 municipal councils/ nagar panchayats within 15 days, without waiting for the completion of a fresh delimitation exercise.

The bench also reminded the state of its constitutional obligation under Articles 243E and 243U, which mandate that municipal elections be held before the expiration of a municipality’s five-year term or within six months of its dissolution.

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 12, 2024 05:16 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

PSERC nixes PSPCL’s 2500-MW renewable power purchase plan

Two PPAs signed with SECI and SJVN in June this year were rejected due to the projected financial burden on consumers

The commission has suggested that PSPCL could explore setting up its own solar plant, potentially generating over 500 MW of cheaper power. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 11, 2024 08:06 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Civic body polls: Punjab govt to move top court against HC order

The government is seeking to delay the elections, citing technicalities to finalise the delimitation process for some civic bodies

Top government lawyers are drafting a petition to challenge the high court order in the apex court. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 08, 2024 06:58 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Punjab mulls knocking SC doors against HC orders on civic body polls

The high court on October 19 directed the Punjab govt to declare poll schedule for 5 MCs and 42 municipal councils/nagar panchayats within 15 days; the elections for the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Phagwara and Ludhiana have been pending for the last two years.

As per sources, the Punjab government is consulting top lawyers on the possibility of challenging the high court order on MC polls in the Supreme Court (Sanjay Sharma)

Chandigarh

Updated on Nov 02, 2024 07:56 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Cong fields spouses of PPCC chief, former deputy CM for bypolls

The Chabbewal seat fell vacant as Dr Raj Kumar switched to ruling AAP and was later elected as MP from Hoshiarpur.

Amrita Warring has been active in the Gidderbaha constituency along with her husband. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 23, 2024 09:54 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Won’t hesitate to get rice milled outside state: Punjab CM

The farmers ended their ongoing protest today with an ultimatum to take ‘big action’ in case the state fails to ensure smooth paddy procurement within four days

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann has said that state government committed to the smooth procurement, will not allow ‘blackmailing. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Published on Oct 19, 2024 10:47 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Procurement ops hit as millers again refuse to store paddy

The Punjab Rice Millers Association last Saturday had called off their stir after a meeting with chief minister Bhagwant Mann after the state acceded to most of their demands.

Workers dry paddy crop at Bhagtanwala Grain Market in Amritsar. (Sameer Sehgal/HT)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 12, 2024 10:55 PM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

After 4 year wait, VB gets nod to prosecute 3 excise officials

The excise and taxation department, after much deliberations has given sanction to prosecute assistant excise and taxation commissioner Vishawdeep Singh Bhangu and inspectors Abhishek Duggal and Kalicharan.

The vigilance bureau had arrested 12 tax officials and the role of many other officials was under scanner for their collusion in letting transporters evade taxes in lieu of bribes. (HT File)

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 08, 2024 05:26 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

Gurdaspur BJP man makes ₹2-cr bid for sarpanch’s post

Three main contenders — BJP’s Atma Singh, Jaswinder Singh Bedi and Nirbhair Singh — were vying for the position. Atma Singh’s bid of ₹2 crore is currently the highest and the funds from this process are expected to go towards the village development projects.

Nomination can be filed till October 4 and voting will take place on October 15.

Chandigarh

Updated on Oct 01, 2024 09:14 AM IST

ByVishal Rambani, Chandigarh

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Vishal Rambani

Vishal Rambani is an assistant editor covering Punjab. A journalist with over a decade of experience, he writes on politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues. He has several investigative stories to his credit.

Vigilance Bureau probe finds medicines intended for treating addiction, particularly tablets containing Buprenorphine and Naloxone, being misappropriated and sold in black by more than 60% private drug de-addiction centres in state; seeks cancellation of licences.

A 1993-batch IAS officer, K Siva Prasad had sought premature retirement during former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh’s tenure also but later withdrew his request

Delhi goes to poll on February 5 and AAP has mobilized its full organisational strength, assigning campaign duties to cabinet ministers, MLAs, party office bearers, newly elected councillors, volunteers, and workers from Punjab.

After Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission rejects deal, hill state swiftly signs PPA with Solar Energy Corporation of India to buy 900MW of wind-solar hybrid power

GST raids reveal land pooling agreements were made without actual land, and the Expression of Interest model was used to secure early investments from buyers, even before securing necessary approvals

The high court struck down FIRs, citing procedural lapses and insufficient grounds for prosecution. However, VB claims judgment did not consider evidence submitted in the chargesheet before trial court.

The project was announced in 2017 to replace the aging units, which were contributing to high power generation costs, boost the state’s energy output and provide cleaner power at a reduced cost.

In 2024, Punjab's panchayat department reclaimed only 585 acres of illegally occupied land, far below the 10,000-acre target, amid election disruptions.

In Amritsar, the party is 6 short of a majority, while it needs the support of three more councillors to elect a mayor in Phagwara

Aam Aadmi Party emerges as the single-largest party in Ludhiana and Jalandhar; Congress a whisker away from majority in Phagwara; BJP, SAD fail to bag even a single civic body

During the Lok Sabha elections, the AAP lost urban voters to the BJP and the Congress. The AAP, which won three out of the four recent held assembly by-polls, is trying to regain the urban vote bank.

Once the latest promotions are finalised, Punjab will have 11 officers with the rank of chief secretary and additional chief secretary.

At present, as per gradation list of IPS officers, available on the Punjab police website, 15 IPS officers have a rank of DGP out of which — Parag Jain (additional secretary) and Harpreet Sidhu, are serving on central deputation.

For 95 seats in Ludhiana, 682 candidates filed their papers, 173 for 60 seats in Patiala, 448 for 85 seats in Jalandhar, 219 for 50 seats in Phagwara and 709 for 85 seats in Amritsar.

Power corporation earns ₹2, 685 cr profit between April and September, govt owes it ₹6,000 crore against subsidies

The court of additional sessions judge, Mohali, Harsimranjit Singh passed orders as he found an application seeking more time to decide the approval for sanction of prosecution.

The plea comes after the Punjab department of forest and wildlife protection moved a proposal to the state cabinet to declare a 3-kilometre area around Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary as an eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) before sending it to the central government for notification

The victory in the legal battle, which started in 2012, will now lead to ₹2,500 crore saving for the PSPCL as the power corporation is deducting 9.4 paise per unit from the NPL since it started operation.

Due to their presence in large numbers and tendency to vote en masse, sect followers have potential to sway the electoral outcome.

The bypolls to the four assembly seats – Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala — will take place on November 20 and the counting of votes will be held on November 23.

Two PPAs signed with SECI and SJVN in June this year were rejected due to the projected financial burden on consumers

The government is seeking to delay the elections, citing technicalities to finalise the delimitation process for some civic bodies

The high court on October 19 directed the Punjab govt to declare poll schedule for 5 MCs and 42 municipal councils/nagar panchayats within 15 days; the elections for the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar, Phagwara and Ludhiana have been pending for the last two years.

The Chabbewal seat fell vacant as Dr Raj Kumar switched to ruling AAP and was later elected as MP from Hoshiarpur.

The farmers ended their ongoing protest today with an ultimatum to take ‘big action’ in case the state fails to ensure smooth paddy procurement within four days

The Punjab Rice Millers Association last Saturday had called off their stir after a meeting with chief minister Bhagwant Mann after the state acceded to most of their demands.

The excise and taxation department, after much deliberations has given sanction to prosecute assistant excise and taxation commissioner Vishawdeep Singh Bhangu and inspectors Abhishek Duggal and Kalicharan.

Three main contenders — BJP’s Atma Singh, Jaswinder Singh Bedi and Nirbhair Singh — were vying for the position. Atma Singh’s bid of ₹2 crore is currently the highest and the funds from this process are expected to go towards the village development projects.

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