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
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.
Updated on Oct 08, 2024 05:26 AM IST
Vishal 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.
Updated on Oct 01, 2024 09:14 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Panchayat elections in Punjab on October 15
According to the election schedule, the filing of nominations will commence from September 27 and October 4 will be the last date. Nominations can be filed between 11am and 3pm
Updated on Sep 26, 2024 06:36 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Punjab: Five new ministers sworn in as Mann rejigs cabinet
This was the fourth cabinet reshuffle of the 30-month-old AAP government. The move is seen as a strategic effort to revitalise governance, particularly in light of the recent Lok Sabha election results, which fell short of the party’s expectations
Updated on Sep 24, 2024 09:32 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
AAP’s mining tangle: Punjab gets fourth minister in 30 months
With the latest cabinet rejig, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has appointed its fourth mining minister in just two-and-a-half years, pointing at its struggle with managing critical state sectors
Updated on Sep 24, 2024 09:10 AM IST
Reshuffle today: Mann cabinet set to get 5 new faces
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann will reshuffle his cabinet on Monday, replacing four ministers and adding five new faces amid shifting political dynamics.
Updated on Sep 23, 2024 06:48 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Panchayat polls to be held in Punjab before Oct 20
After debarring candidates to contest elections of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) on party symbols, the rural development department has set the ball rolling for the conduct of the PRI elections which will take place before October 20.
Published on Sep 19, 2024 10:54 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Foodgrains transportation scam: Vigilance attaches assets of fugitive food, civil supplies ex-deputy director
A Ludhiana court declared RK Singla proclaimed offender and recently allowed the Vigilance Bureau to attach properties under Section 18A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which the probe agency claims were purchased from the ill-gotten money generated via bribes.
Updated on Sep 19, 2024 05:16 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Punjab Vigilance Bureau awaits nod to prosecute 5 ex-ministers
Sanction to prosecute ex-ministers Dharamsot and Arora is waiting for governor’s nod, while three others are pending with government
Updated on Sep 17, 2024 05:44 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Panel to look into protesters’ concern over biogas plants
“After hearing the farmers and other protesters, the state government has given consent to form a scientific expert group to study the main issues raised by the local residents. The committee will submit a report within 10 days,” says cabinet minister Aman Arora.
Updated on Sep 11, 2024 10:31 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
₹1,000-crore biogas projects hit roadblock amid farmers’ protest
Cabinet ministers Aman Arora and Harpal Cheema to meet today for a solution. Farmers have been claiming that the chemicals produced during biogas generation can be carcinogenic and contaminate the soil.
Published on Sep 10, 2024 10:43 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Land acquisition in Punjab’s Mohali village: VB gets centre’s nod to prosecute 2 ex-IAS officers in graft case
The case dates back to 2023, when the ex-IAS officers SS Bains and GK Singh were charged under various sections of corruption.
Updated on Sep 08, 2024 05:34 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Cash-strapped Punjab hikes fuel prices, withdraws power subsidy scheme partially
VAT on petrol and diesel increased by 61 paise and 92 paise per litre, respectively; Channi govt’s subsidy of ₹3 per unit for domestic power consumers with up to 7 KW load rolled back.
Updated on Sep 05, 2024 02:28 PM IST
Speaker seeks report on tainted cops from home secretary
The assembly, in an unprecedented move, had on Monday summoned the DGP for Tuesday, asking him to submit a report in a matter in which a cop had allegedly accepted gratification from a gangster apparently with the purpose to hush up a case.
Updated on Sep 04, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Home secy told to submit tainted cops’ list, suggestion for action
Punjab Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expanded a report on 'tainted' cops, urging action against corruption amid a suspended ASI's bail denial in a bribery case.
Updated on Sep 04, 2024 05:08 AM IST
Talwandi Sabo power plant hits back, blames PSPCL for coal shortage
TSPL blames PSPCL for coal shortage after PSPCL issued default notices for insufficient coal stock. TSPL claims PSPCL failed to ensure coal supply per their agreement.
Updated on Sep 02, 2024 06:20 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Of 14 state-run varsities, 10 without regular V-Cs
Adhocism has hit higher educational institutes in Punjab hard with 10 of the total 14 state universities functioning without a regular vice-chancellor (V-C).
Updated on Aug 22, 2024 05:06 AM IST
PSPCL serves notice on TSPL for its failure to maintain coal stock
The TSPL is operating a 1,980 MW thermal plant in Punjab under a power purchase agreement (PPA) signed in 2008 with the PSPCL.
Updated on Aug 21, 2024 09:00 AM IST
Drug probe: SIT summons cops who cracked Jagdish Bhola case
Apart from Mann, the SIT has summoned Ludhiana DCP Jaskaran Singh Teja, Nabha DSP Devinder Attri, Rajpura DSP Bikram Singh Brar and former SSP Bhupinder Singh Khatra. These officials had handled the Bhola drug racket case.
Updated on Aug 13, 2024 09:58 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
On VB radar, PSIEC official made executive director
The ‘promotion’ of Bhai Sukhdeep Singh Sidhu, who has been booked by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) in connection with an alleged multi-crore scam, as an executive director in the Punjab State Industrial Export Corporation (PSIEC) has raised questions about the integrity of the administrative process within the department.
Updated on Aug 11, 2024 05:16 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
After CM Mann, Punjab speaker denied nod for US visit
Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan , who was to fly to Louisville city on Saturday to attend the meet of speakers of legislative bodies from August 4 to 7, got a message online saying he could not be granted political clearance
Updated on Aug 04, 2024 07:14 AM IST
MHA denies CM Mann Paris travel, cites security concerns
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was eager to support the national hockey squad during its first quarterfinal match in the ongoing Olympics on August 4.
Published on Aug 02, 2024 10:53 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
‘No NHAI project shelved in Punjab’:Harbhajan Singh ETO, Punjab PWD minister
Amid reports that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has scrapped some projects in Punjab, state public works department minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said no project has been shelved.
Published on Jul 17, 2024 10:26 PM IST
Water levels of dams go down, shows CWC data
The water level in the Bhakra, Ranjit Sagar and Pong dams is crucial for irrigation and power generation in the region.
Updated on Jul 13, 2024 08:10 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Amid surge in power demand, four thermal units trip in Punjab
Four thermal units — one each at Talwandi Sabo thermal power plant and Lehra Mohabbat thermal plant and two units of Ropar thermal have tripped on boiler faults pushing the PSPCL in a tight spot.
Updated on Jul 11, 2024 07:00 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Relief for PSPCL as power demand dips by 5,000 MW
Until recently, the searing heatwave and paddy transplantation had pushed the state’s peak power demand beyond its maximum supply capacity of 16,000 MW. Last month, the demand had touched the highest-ever figure of 16,083 MW.
Published on Jul 06, 2024 10:31 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
After AAP poor show in LS polls, MC elections in Punjab to be delayed further
AAP MLAs, including those from Amritsar and Ludhiana, have urged chief minister Bhagwant Mann not to hold the civic body elections and give the party time to redraw its strategy in the urban areas.
Published on Jul 05, 2024 12:24 PM IST
Fatehgarh Sahib DC to probe allegations against PPCB official for overstepping jurisdiction
Chief secretary Anurag Verma marked an inquiry against the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) official on the allegations of overstepping his jurisdiction to act against the industry.
Updated on Jul 05, 2024 07:44 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Chandigarh
Peak demand: PSPCL gets go-ahead to impose power cuts
The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) has authorised Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to impose rotational power cuts, but with riders, to bridge the gap between demand and supply
Updated on Jun 21, 2024 08:18 AM IST
Punjab stares at power cuts as demand hits all-time high
Punjab government writes to Centre for 1,000 MW more from the central pool. The Union government is yet to respond to the state.
Updated on Jun 19, 2024 05:44 AM IST
Vishal Rambani/Karam Parkash