A special correspondent, Vishal Rambani is the bureau chief at Patiala. He covers politics, crime, power sector, environment and socio-economic issues, with several investigative stories to his credit.
Articles by Vishal Rambani
Nabha jailbreak impossible without assistance of prison officials: Court
The additional district and sessions judge, HS Grewal, made scathing remarks against the prisons department in his judgment and also listed some measures to improve its functioning
Published on Mar 27, 2023 09:38 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
18 Nabha jailbreak convicts get 10-year imprisonment
Seven years after the sensational Nabha maximum security prison break, a Patiala district court on Thursday sentenced 22 accused to jail terms ranging from three to 20 years.
Published on Mar 24, 2023 12:51 AM IST
Nabha prison break: Court convicts 22, acquits six
Seven years after the sensational Nabha Maximum Security prison break, a daring act of gangsters which rocked the nation, the district court has convicted 22 accused while acquitting six.
Published on Mar 21, 2023 10:51 PM IST
PM security breach: Punjab CM okays penalty for ex-DGP, two senior cops
Chief secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua had moved a file to chargesheet all erring officers, but the CMO only approved the chargesheet of three police officers. Former chief secretary Anirudh Tewari will be issued a show-cause notice
Published on Mar 21, 2023 12:10 PM IST
Himachal Pradesh water cess may raise power tariffs in neighbouring states
The Himachal Pradesh government’s move to impose a water cess on hydropower projects will raise power tariffs by at least ₹1 per unit, which may be contested by states such as Punjab that buy the power
Updated on Mar 17, 2023 04:03 AM IST
Rajeev Jayaswal, Vishal Rambani & Gaurav Bisht
PM Modi’s Punjab visit: Officers to be charged over security breach
After drawing flak from the Centre over the delay in action on the breach of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security during his Punjab visit in January last year, the state’s chief secretary Vijay Kumar Janjua said on Monday that all the indicted officers will be charged.
Published on Mar 14, 2023 01:14 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PM Modi security breach: Govt to chargesheet erring officers, says chief secy
Following flak from the Centre over the delay in action over the breach of security of Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Punjab visit in January last year, chief secretary Vijay Kumar Januja said that all indicted officers will be chargesheeted.
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 10:35 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PM security breach: Centre seeks action-taken report from Punjab
A report of the Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee looking into the breach in security during Modi’s Punjab visit on January 5, 2022, which was submitted six months ago, indicted then state chief secretary Anirudh Tewari, police chief S Chattopadhyaya, and other top officers for lapses.
Updated on Mar 12, 2023 04:19 AM IST
Punjab vigilance bureau issues lookout notice against ex-CM Channi in DA probe
On March 7, chief minister Bhagwant Mann had said in the assembly that Channi was under scanner in the DA case.
Updated on Mar 11, 2023 04:20 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
PM security breach: 6 months on, no action against former Punjab chief secretary, ex-DGP
Supreme Court-appointed inquiry committee cites ‘colossal failure in planning and coordination’; report sent by Centre to AAP govt in September, but CM Bhagwant Mann is yet to act
Published on Mar 07, 2023 12:46 PM IST
NHM grants only for health and wellness centres: Union minister
In an apparent reference to Punjab government’s flagship Aam Aadmi Clinics, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said the state government will get grant for health and wellness centres under the National Health Mission and not for any other scheme.
Published on Mar 05, 2023 10:54 PM IST
Punjab’s power subsidy set to touch whopping ₹20k-cr next fiscal
The power subsidy payable by Punjab Government to power corporation may cross a whopping ₹20,000 crore as per the revised estimates of Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and the government’s commitment to clear previous arrears of subsidy in five equal instalments of ₹1,804 crore.
Published on Mar 01, 2023 01:17 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab’s power demand shoots up by 25% with rising temperatures
Even as farmers fear crop loss due to above-normal temperature this season, Punjab State Power Corporation Limited officials are also worried as the power demand has shot up by 25% this February as compared to corresponding period last year.
Published on Feb 26, 2023 10:45 PM IST
Gangster Teja Mehandpuria, 2 aides killed in an encounter in Punjab’s Fatehgarh Sahib
Two cops, sub-inspector Gurpreet Singh and constable Sukhraj received injuries during the encounter and are presently undergoing treatment
Published on Feb 23, 2023 12:59 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Fatehgarh Sahib
Punjab VB summons former Congress minister Brahm Mohindra in DA case
Brahm Mohindra is sixth former minister being probed for disproportionate assets; the VB arrested Sadhu Singh Dharamsot in a similar case, while former ministers Sham Sunder Arora, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Gurpreet Kangar, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and at least five other Congress leaders are under VB scrutiny for corruption
Updated on Feb 21, 2023 11:43 AM IST
Assets case: Congress leader Dharamsot amassed huge properties in Mohali, Amloh, reveals Punjab vigilance probe
Former forest minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot amassed undisclosed properties in Mohali and Amloh worth crores, reveals the Punjab vigilance bureau (VB) probe.
Updated on Feb 09, 2023 09:38 PM IST
Punjab vigilance arrests former minister Dharamsot in assets case
Punjab vigilance bureau on Monday arrested former minister and Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamsot for amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income
Published on Feb 07, 2023 01:14 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Preneet Kaur takes on Tariq Anwar over show-cause notice
A defiant Patiala Congress MP and former minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur on Monday hit back at the party’s disciplinary action committee member secretary Tariq Anwar for issuing her a show-cause notice for anti-party activities and dared the party “to take whatever action it wants to”.
Published on Feb 07, 2023 12:01 AM IST
Punjab: Take whatever action you want, Patiala MP Preneet Kaur dares Congress
In hard-hitting reply to show-cause notice to party, former Union minister expresses surprise that Tariq Anwar, who had quit the party on Sonia’s elevation despite being a foreign national, is now questioning her for “anti-party activities”; vows to stand by Punjab
Published on Feb 06, 2023 12:49 PM IST
Congress suspends MP Preneet Kaur
The Congress disciplinary committee on Friday suspended Preneet Kaur, Patiala Lok Sabha MP and wife of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, and asked her to explain within three days why she should not be expelled for indulging in anti-party activities.
Published on Feb 04, 2023 12:09 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Congress suspends Patiala MP Preneet Kaur for anti-party activities
Congress’ disciplinary panel member secretary Tariq Anwar says Preneet has been asked to explain in three days why she shouldn’t be expelled; action comes after complaints by Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring
Published on Feb 03, 2023 04:46 PM IST
Suspense prevails over Navjot Sidhu’s release
Even though the premature release of Navjot Singh Sidhu from Patiala central jail is uncertain, his supporters have geared up for grand welcome of the cricketer turned politician.
Published on Jan 25, 2023 10:31 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Rape in moving car: Accused sent to 2-day police remand
Two days after a 12-year-old girl was raped in a moving car in the Balbeda area of Patiala, a local court on Monday sent the accused to two-day police remand.
Published on Jan 24, 2023 12:34 AM IST
Punjab excise minister intercepts 15 trucks ferrying goods without paying GST
After complaints of tax evasion, Harpal Cheema and GST commissioner KK Yadav conduct surprise check at Rajpura
Updated on Jan 21, 2023 02:43 PM IST
Rahul in Punjab: Bharat Jodo Yatra successful because India about unity
Congress leader says BJP, RSS resorting to divisive politics to spread fear, hatred, but he is showing path of unity, which is why his yatra is successful
Updated on Jan 11, 2023 01:42 PM IST
Punjab VB arrests trio from Nabha for extorting ₹1.5 lakh from registry clerk
Property agent, his two accomplices were blackmailing govt official; Vigilance Bureau team laid trap and caught accused accepting second instalment of extortion amount
Published on Jan 09, 2023 06:07 PM IST
After Sarari’s resignation, Dr Balbir Singh likely to sworn in as Punjab minister
Dr Balbir Singh, a 66-year-old MLA from Patiala (rural) constituency, is likely to be inducted as cabinet minister in the chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Cabinet
Updated on Jan 07, 2023 02:34 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
Punjab: Six members of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang arrested with 12 weapons
Accused were operating weapon and drugs smuggling racket in border state, DGP assures of stern action
Published on Jan 02, 2023 04:06 PM IST
Badal, Dhindsa families stalled work at Sangrur medical college: Bhagwant Mann
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday slammed the Badal and Dhindsa families for ‘joining hands’ to stall work on Sangrur medical college for their ‘vested political interests’.
Published on Jan 01, 2023 11:19 PM IST
Vishal Rambani, Sangrur
Lookout circular issued against former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder’s adviser Chahal
The circular against Chahal, who is incommunicado and untraceable since the vigilance bureau initiated its probe about 12 days ago, has been opened to prevent him from fleeing India
Published on Dec 22, 2022 12:34 AM IST
Vishal Rambani, Patiala
