hyderabad l tuesday l august 04, 2026 l `9.00 l PAGES 16 l LATE CITY EDITION Encroachment-free footpath must on every road: SC to govt The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to ensure every road has an encroachment-free space for pedestrians Ensure proper demarcation, govt told ‘space must make pedestrians feel safe’ “Without any big investment and construction, just ensure that proper demarcation is done of walkers’ space. Wherever there is a road, there should be a walkers’ space. Do it with a rope or anything and ensure it is not encroached,” a bench of justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe told Additional Solicitor General K M Nararaj, who appeared for the Centre ■ ■ The bench said pedestrians should have confidence that the space is meant for them and they can walk freely without fear of vehicles. It was hearing a suo motu case concerning the right to safe footpath The direction comes weeks after the top court on June 19 held that the right to walk on a demarcated footpath is a fundamental right 2 weeks later is when the supreme court will hear the matter again 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 Court acquits Brij Bhushan, appalled Phogat to fight on Wake-up call for Bihar CM as PK grabs BJP safe seat Cong holds on to Datia in bypoll, BJP retains Manjalpur in Gujarat r a m a s h a n k a r , A n u r a a g si n g h & Di l ip S i n g h K s h at r i ya ‘We haven’t lost hope’ UDAYAN K I S HORE & H a r p r e e t B a j w a @ New Delhi/Chandigarh A Delhi court on Monday acquitted ex-BJP MP and former Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh in a 2023 sexual harassment case filed by six women wrestlers, including celebrated grappler Vinesh Phogat, citing lack of evidence. The court also granted relief to former WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar in the case. “Both accused stand acquitted,” Chief Judicial Magistrate Ashwini Panwar said in a verdict pronounced in-camera. A separate FIR lodged by a minor wrestler was closed by court in May 2025 following a police investigation. The court had accepted a closure report filed by police in the case. In the present case, Phogat revealed she was one of the six victims in a video message posted on X on May 3, 2026. In the verdict passed on Monday, the court accepted the defence counsel’s arguments about inconsistencies and contradictions in witness testimonies, improbability and ground of ‘alibi’ and acquitted , the accused, said advocate Rajiv Mohan, who represented both Singh and Tomar. Reacting to the verdict, wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia said they were “deeply saddened” but will continue the legal fight. In a joint statement, they said the complainants have instructed lawyers to appeal the verdict. The police filed a chargesheet against Singh and Tomar in June 2023 under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354A (sexual harassment), 354D (stalking) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. In May 2024, the court framed charges of sexual harassment, intimidation and outraging women’s modesty against Singh, and criminal intimidation against Tomar. @ Patna/Bhopal/Ahmedabad Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia said they were “deeply saddened” by the court’s decision but will continue the legal fight. “We have not lost hope and the wrestlers will continue their fight.” SHATTERING BJP’s more than three-decade winning streak in the Bankipur assembly by-election in Bihar, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday emerged victor, defeating his BJP opponent by a margin of 19,324 votes. In two other assembly bypolls, the Congress retained Datia in Madhya Pradesh while BJP retained Manjalpur seat in Gujarat. While Kishor polled 64,151 votes, his closest rival Neeraj Kumar Sinha of BJP secured 44,827 votes. RJD’s Rekha Gupta stood third with 14,273 votes. Kishor was ahead of the BJP candidate throughout the counting process. The defeat is a significant blow to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, who had held the Bankipur seat for five consecutive terms, and to Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, who faced his first electoral test after taking the baton from JD(U) boss Nitish Kumar. Kishor had cast the bypoll as a referendum on Choudhary’s leadership, accusing the BJP of “arrogance” in treating Bankipur as an unassailable bastion. A political analyst said that there was a feeling among a large section of the electorate that BJP should taste defeat this time. He claimed that the Gen Z demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and later in Patna over Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh shows victory sign after his acquittal | PTI I said on the very first day that if the allegations are true, I will hang myself. I am very happy that I have been acquitted today Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh State govts can close or withdraw FIRs: SC Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor with supporters in Patna on Monday | Express No alliance with any party: Jan Suraaj Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor on Monday ruled out the possibility of joining any political alliance. “We shall have no alliance. Our alliance shall be with the people of Bihar. People of Bankipur have voted for us, giving up on established parties,” said Kishor when asked about a rethink on his earlier stance of going it alone in elections leak of NEET question paper had affected the Bankipur election even as the controversial Bhojpur police encounter, that claimed the life of Bharat Bhushan Tiwari, not only rattled upper castes and supporters of BJP but also other social groups, who do not generally vote for the party . Campaigning on jobs, education and governance rather than caste or religion, Kishor forged a connect that delivered Jan Suraaj its first-ever electoral win. Kishor also dented both BJP and RJD’s traditional vote banks. While upper-caste Kayasthas largely stuck with BJP, other upper-caste and OBC voters appeared to have drifted to- S u c h i t r a K a lya n m o h a n t y @ New Delhi ward Kishor, as did sections of RJD’s Muslim-Yadav base, with some Muslim voters backing him as the candidate best placed to defeat the BJP . In Madhya Pradesh, Congress retained the prestigious Datia seat, winning the by-election by 6,016 votes. Congress candidate Kunwar Ghanshyam Singh defeated first-time BJP contestant Ashutosh Tiwari by polling 66,757 votes against Tiwari’s 60,741. BJP’s saving grace was Gujarat, where it retained the Manjalpur assembly seat in Vadodara. Its candidate Satish Govindbhai Patel won the bypoll, defeating Congress’ former minister Bhikhabhai Rabari by 30,630 votes. The Supreme Court on Monday said state governments are at liberty to withdraw or close FIRs registered against students who participated in the NEET paper leak protests. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and justices Joym- Meta tells Parl alya Bagchi and V Mohana also clar- panel it’s ready ified that the expression “criminal to apologise antecedents” in its July 28 order on Meta told a releasing student protesters re- parliamentary panel on ferred only to those involved in Monday that it is ready grave and heinous offences. to apologise for the On July 28, the court ordered the brief restriction on a release of all student protesters, ex- post by Prime Minister cept those with “criminal anteced- Narendra Modi recently ents”. Monday’s clarification came on Facebook | P10 after petitioners raised concerns that the expression “criminal antecedents” could impede the withdrawal of FIRs. “It is clarified for the July 28 order that NCT of Delhi and any other State shall be at liberty to close/withdraw FIRs against protesters. The word criminal antecedent is to be read as grave and heinous offences,” the court said. Military-civilian integration a must: Rajnath j a v a r i a r a n a @ New Delhi fire & faith Artistes perform during the Ujjaini Mahankali temple procession as part of the Bonalu festival in Secunderabad on Monday | SRI LOGANATHAN VELMURUGAN | P3 TAKING the government’s integrated agenda beyond the three armed forces, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday called for integration between the military and civilian wings of the defence establishment, arguing that the two can no longer operate in silos. Addressing the AFHQ Civilian Services Day here, Singh said deeper institutional integration between the uniformed services and civilian officials was critical to creating genu- ine synergy, improving decision making and responding more effectively to rapidly evolving security and technological challenges. The interface between the military and the civilian bureaucracy has long been regarded as one of the weak links in India’s higher defence management. To narrow that gap, the defence minister advocated structured cross-exposure through joint training pro- After SC ruling, focus on four TG projects Deepam row: SC refuses to stay Madras HC order No negotiations with US, says Iran Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy directed officials to secure pending environmental clearances for the Palamuru-Rangareddy, Sitaramasagar, Dindi and Gouravelli irrigation projects, following the recent Supreme Court judgment | p4 New Delhi: The SC on Monday agreed to hear a plea filed by TN govt challenging the Madras HC’s permission to light a lamp on a pillar atop Thirupparankundram hill. The bench, however, turned down the state’s plea to stay the HC order ex-parte, and issued notice on the stay application. Tehran: Iran denied US President Donald Trump’s claim that fresh talks had begun, saying negotiations were only with Oman on managing passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump had earlier said he had paused new strikes to give diplomacy a chance | P9 6.5% LIC Hopefuls line up, parties stake to be sold by govt at `382/share Govt to sell up to 6.5% stake in LIC through a twoday offer for sale, expects to add `31,000 crore to its disinvestment kitty | P10 Endless Runaround A 50-yr struggle for compensation “What wrong have I done?” asks E Bakka Reddy “Is it right . for them to make a poor farmer spend decades going around government offices? How can this be justified?” he says, the “them” referring to officials of various departments. Every few months, Bakka Reddy folds his bundle of yellowing papers, boards a bus from his village and heads to yet another government office. His voice betrays years of frustration as he recounts the fa- miliar routine. The district collector’s office sends him to the revenue divisional officer. The RDO asks him to meet the tahsildar. The tahsildar points him towards the Roads & Buildings (R&B) department. “This has been my life for nearly five decades,” says the farmer from Mogadampalli mandal in the Zaheerabad constituency. He says the government acquired nearly two acres of his family’s land when the Zaheerabad-Chincholi road was laid in the late 1970s. His father, convinced that the “Military officers bring operational experience, command perspective and an understanding of warfare, while civilian officers contribute administrative continuity policy , expertise, knowledge of government processes and institutional memory Together, these . strengths lead to more informed and effective decision making,” he said. Singh also urged the AFHQ Civilian Services to evolve beyond a purely administrative role and emerge as the “strategic brain” of defence domain. Graduate MLC polls E x p re s s R e a d P K r is h n a @ Sangareddy grammes and developmental assignments, allowing officers from both sides to gain a better understanding of each other’s roles, expertise and institutional strengths. “Military and administrative integration cannot advance on separate tracks,” he said, adding that as India moves towards joint and integrated military structures, closer coordination will be required across policy formulation, HR, and institutional knowledge. government would honour its promise, spent years visiting offices with land records and petitions. He died before receiving compensation. The compensation claim has outlived one generation and is now being pursued by the next. Now around 60 years old, Bakka Reddy has taken over where his father left off. “I have spent my life doing the same thing,” he says. According to him, officials have not paid “even a single paisa” for the land.  Continued on page 5 Bakka Reddy shows his land documents at Sangareddy Collectorate on Monday start weighing options I r e d dy S r i n i vas R e d dy @ Hyderabad Elections to the two Graduate MLC seats may still be some time away, but the Congress, BRS and BJP have already shifted focus to who will carry the party flag in the Nalgonda-Warangal-Khammam and Mahbubnagar-Rangareddy-Hyderabad constituencies. All three believe the outcome could set the tone ahead of the next Assembly elections. For the Congress, the stakes go beyond winning two Council seats. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and several Cabinet colleagues represent these regions, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao, Vakati Srihari, Dansari Anasuya (Seethakka), Konda Surekha, N Uttam Kumar Red- dy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy A strong showing would . reinforce the party’s position, while a poor result could raise uncomfortable questions. Perhaps that explains why the high command is leaving little to chance. Sources said it has directed the state leadership to ensure victory in both constituencies and asked the chief minister and the TPCC president to finalise the strongest candidates before the election schedule is announced. The groundwork is already under way. According to party sources, the Congress has unofficially formed a three-member committee of ministers from the two constituencies to identify the strongest contenders. The panel will scrutinise applications, shortlist aspirants and forward recommendations to the high command.  Continued on page 4 NIMS clocks 1,000 robotic surgeries; over 90% free E x p r e ss N e w s S e r v i c e @ Hyderabad In less than three years, the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has recorded 1,000 robotic-assisted surgeries, with more than 90% of the procedures performed free of cost under the Aarogyasri and Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF) schemes. The achievement has earned praise from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha. The 1,000 robotic surgeries spanned a wide range of complex procedures across the three departments. Of these, 590 were performed by the department of Urology including complex kid, ney transplants, prostate and bladder cancer surgeries, paediatric reconstructive procedures and advanced urinary tract reconstructions. The department of Surgical Gastroenterology performed 248 procedures involving liver, pancreas, colorectal and upper gastrointestinal disorders, while the department of Surgical Oncology carried out 162 surgeries for ovarian, uterine, colorectal and other cancers using organpreserving techniques.  Continued on page 5 The team of NIMS doctors