Hindustan Aeronautics Limited expects to complete delivery of all aircraft by 2032-33

Indigenous fighter jet Tejas Mark-1A made its maiden flight in Nashik on Friday. Deliveries to the Indian Air Force (IAF), however, are expected to take a few more weeks, pending completion of weapon integration and testing.

Plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is validating weapon parameters before handing over the aircraft, originally scheduled for delivery in March 2024. The company is still integrating the Astra beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile, a laser-guided bomb and the ASRAAM short-range air-to-air missile, each meant for specific air-combat roles. The IAF has asked for the integration to be completed so that the aircraft is combat-ready on delivery.

HAL Chairman and Managing Director Dr DK Sunil said, “We are conducting weapon trials, and the results are positive. I expect that in the coming months we’ll complete this task and be in a position to deliver the aircraft.”

The aircraft is structurally complete, with the remaining updates limited to software changes, he added.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has signed two contracts with HAL for a total of 180 Tejas Mark-1A jets — 83 aircraft for Rs 48,000 crore in January 2021, and another 97 for Rs 62,370 crore last month. HAL expects to complete delivery of all aircraft by 2032-33.

At Nashik, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh witnessed the maiden flight and inaugurated the third Tejas Mark-1A production line. He described the jet as a symbol of India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

HAL is also facing delays in the supply of General Electric (GE) F404 engines, essential for the Tejas Mark-1A. Nearly a dozen aircraft are ready at HAL’s facility, but only four engines have been delivered so far. “GE has overcome earlier supply issues, though ramp-up is still slow,” Dr Sunil said. “As production stabilises, we’ll be able to meet the 2032-33 timeline.”

Singh noted that India’s annual defence production has now reached Rs 1.5 lakh crore, crediting the growth to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He also commended HAL’s Nashik team for integrating the BrahMos missile on the Sukhoi-30MKI during Operation Sindoor, strengthening IAF’s operational readiness.

Bhullar, middleman remanded in judicial custody

In one of the biggest corruption crackdowns in Punjab’s police ranks, the CBI has unearthed papers related to over 50 properties, besides a staggering trail of cash, gold, luxury watches, liquor and firearms during searches on the premises of arrested DIG (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch Punjab-cadre IPS officer, and his associate middleman, Kirshanu Sharda.

The searches, carried out at multiple locations in Chandigarh and Punjab following their arrest on Thursday evening, led to the recovery of Rs 7.5 crore, 2.5 kg of gold jewellery, 26 luxury watches, including Rolex and Rado, four firearms with 100 live cartridges and documents related to more than 50 immovable properties allegedly held in the names of Bhullar’s family members and suspected benami entities.

The CBI also seized locker keys, details of several bank accounts and Rs 5.7 lakh along with 108 liquor bottles and 17 live cartridges from Bhullar’s farmhouse in Samrala near Ludhiana. From the residence of the alleged middleman Kirshanu Sharda, Rs 21 lakh and several incriminating documents were recovered.

Both Bhullar and Sharda were today remanded in judicial custody till October 31.

According to the CBI’s case, registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, DIG Bhullar had allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 4 lakh and monthly illegal gratification through Sharda for “settling” an FIR registered against the complainant. The verification process revealed that the demand had later escalated to Rs 8 lakh.

Both Bhullar and Sharda were arrested around 8 pm on October 16 in Chandigarh in the presence of independent witnesses. The CBI said all mandatory legal formalities were followed, and their medical examination was conducted at the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, Chandigarh. Family members were informed of the arrests.

A CBI team had earlier laid a trap the same day after verifying the bribery demand. Sharda was caught red-handed while taking Rs 5 lakh, part of the total Rs 8 lakh, from the complainant on behalf of Bhullar. The tainted bribe money was recovered from his possession in the presence of witnesses. During the trap, Sharda allegedly confessed that he was collecting the money on Bhullar’s instructions. A subsequent controlled call between the two was recorded, in which Bhullar acknowledged receipt of the Rs 5 lakh and asked Sharda to bring the complainant and the remaining bribe amount to his office.

During verification on October 11 at the Sector 9-D market in Chandigarh, the CBI recorded a WhatsApp call in which Bhullar allegedly directed Sharda to collect Rs 8 lakh, saying “8 fadne ne 8” and “Jinna denda nal nal fadi chal, ohnu kehde 8 kar de pura.” ( “8 ਫਡਨੇ ਨੇ 8” ਅਤੇ “ਜਿਨਾ ਦੇਂਦੇ ਨਾਲ ਨਾਲ ਫਦੀ ਚਲ, ਓਹਨੂੰ ਕਹਿਦੇ 8 ਕਰ ਦੇ ਪੁਰਾ।)”“8 फडने ने 8” और “जिन्ना देना नल नल फड चल, ओहनु केहदे 8 कर दे पूरा।”Sharda later told the complainant, “Edda kehna pata ki hai… kehnda hai August da ni aaya, September da ni aaya,” implying the DIG was demanding monthly payments. The mobile number used in the call was verified as belonging to DIG Bhullar. The recorded conversation and verification established the bribery demand, leading to registration of the CBI case.

The CBI has expressed strong apprehension that being a senior police officer, Bhullar, if released, may influence or intimidate witnesses, tamper with or destroy crucial evidence or otherwise obstruct the fair and impartial course of investigation. “The investigation is at a crucial and nascent stage. Several material witnesses remain to be examined, and the process of verifying documentary and financial evidence is ongoing,” the federal agency said, while adding that the searches were part of the continuing investigation aimed at uncovering the full extent of the alleged corruption and misconduct.

The case was registered on October 16 by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch, Chandigarh, based on a written complaint dated October 11 by Akash Batta. The complaint was followed by verification confirming that DIG Bhullar, through his middleman, had demanded bribes and monthly payoffs for not taking coercive police action against the complainant’s business. Both accused were produced before the CBI Special Judge in Chandigarh, where the agency sought 14-day judicial custody and the same was granted by the court.

Restrictions back in UT ahead of ‘silent peace march’

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday ordered a judicial inquiry by retired Supreme Court judge Justice BS Chauhan into the September 24 violence in Leh that left four persons dead and nearly 100 injured, the announcement coming on the eve of a “silent peace march” planned in Ladakh against the action by security personnel on protesters.

The MHA order said Justice Chauhan will be assisted by retired District and Sessions Judge Mohan Singh Parihar as judicial secretary and IAS officer Tushar Anand as administrative secretary. The development is expected to break the deadlock between the Centre and the two main groups representing the protesters — Leh Apex Body (LAB) and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA) — as a judicial probe was one of their main demands for resuming talks.

“In order to ensure an impartial inquiry, the Ministry of Home Affairs today notified a judicial inquiry to be conducted by former Supreme Court judge BS Chauhan into the circumstances leading to the serious law and order situation, police action and the resultant death of the four individuals,” a government statement said.

The Tribune had reported on October 6 that the Ladakh leaders had been assured of a judicial probe by the Centre through back-channel communication.

The government also said it was “always open to dialogue and will continue to welcome discussions with the LAB and the KDA through its high-powered committee on Ladakh or any other suitable platform”. “We are confident that continuous dialogue will yield the desired results in the near future. The government stands committed to the aspirations of the people of Ladakh,” the statement said.

The state government has chalked a number of events to commemorate Guru’s martyrdom anniversary across the state

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will extend a formal invitation to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a series of events being organised by the state to commemorate the 350^th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

A spokesperson said the Chief Minister will extend an invitation to these dignitaries to be a part of the commemorative events.

A detailed official programme of events will be shared with both the President and the prime minister, and they will be requested by the Chief Minister to attend those according to their convenience, he said.

The state government will make complete logistical and security arrangements, making this a memorable experience for one and all.

It has already chalked a number of events to commemorate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion across the state in a befitting manner, said the spokesperson.

This series of events will be organised with deep reverence and respect across the state, primarily on the sacred land of Sri Anandpur Sahib under the auspices of the state government.

The underlying message of the series of events will be to encourage the people to follow the high ideals of secularism, humanism and the spirit of sacrifice as preached and practised by the ninth Sikh Guru, who laid down his life to protect the right of freedom to worship and preserve human rights along with secular values.

Meanwhile, various ministers of the state have been entrusted with the task of extending invitations to the chief ministers of the various states to attend the events.

BSF and Pakistan Rangers personnel during the beating retreat ceremony at Attari in Amritsar. File

It has been more than 50 days since the beating retreat ceremony at the joint check-post in Hussainiwala was suspended following the extensive damage to the venue in recent floods. The daily ritual usually draws thousands of visitors to witness the electrifying drill between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers.

Besides, the disruption caused by the ravaging Sutlej has silenced the patriotic spectacle — the Light and Sound show, which attracts countless tourists to pay homage to Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, Sukhdev, BK Dutt and Punjab Mata, leaving local shopkeepers and service providers struggling for survival.

Ceremony timing advanced to 5 pm

Fazilka: The timing of the beating retreat ceremony has been advanced to 5 pm with effect from Thursday at Sadiqi (Fazilka), Hussainiwala (Ferozepur) and Attari (Amrtisar). Officials said the timing had been changed keeping in view the early sunset hours during the autumn and approaching winter. Earlier, the ceremony used to start at 5.30 pm. — OC

Floods have virtually scarred the Hussainiwala site. Roads, grills, generators and parking areas have been severely damaged, as part of the memorial complex and surrounding fields have remained inundated. Once buzzing with visitors, the memorial park and the parking zone now lie deserted due to floodwater.

The devastation has come at a time when the historic place was already struggling to recover from the 2023 floods, which had destroyed the state-of-the-art light and sound system setup under the Centre’s Swadesh Darshan scheme. It took two years to repair the hi-tech equipment and the spectacle of Independence struggle had just started leaving its imprint again when the floods struck again.

The Ministry of Tourism and Culture had announced Rs 25 crore package to develop this sacred place earlier this year; the DPR had been finalised and the work had to start when the deluge caused destruction.

BSF officials, on the condition of anonymity, said: “The entire area near the joint check-post has been severely damaged, especially tiles, pavement and railings. Damaged tiles in the check-post area will take some time for repair. They added that the National Highway Authority of India was reconstructing the entire stretch of flood-ravaged road, including a bridge on the way, leading to the JCP area.

Jagdish Kumar, a local shopkeeper who runs a stall near the memorial complex, said the suspension of the beating retreat had slashed tourist numbers drastically. “Besides Punjab, people from Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi used to visit daily. Now, only those bringing relief material visit the area. Our work is fully dependent on visitors, and after 2023, the recent floods have again left us with no income for weeks,” he said.

Carried rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore

In a major breakthrough, as many as 170 Naxals on Thursday surrendered in Chhattisgarh, with some of them carrying rewards ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

Among those who surrendered included 10 senior operatives, including Satish, alias T Vasudeo Rao, of Central Committee Member (CCM), Ranita (SZCM, Secretary of Maad DVC), Bhaskar (DVCM, PL 32), Nila, alias Nande, (DVCM, IC and Secretary of Nelnar AC), Deepak Palo (DVCM, IC and Secretary of Indravati AC). T Vasudeo Rao (CCM) carried a reward of Rs 1 crore on his head.

Operatives of SZCM rank had rewards of Rs 25 lakh, DVCMs Rs 10 lakh to Rs15 lakh and ACMs had rewards worth Rs 5 lakh.

Huge numbers of automatic weapons, including AK-47s, INSAS, SLRs and 303 rifles, were also surrendered by the Naxals.

The number of Naxals, who surrendered on Thursday, assumes significance considering the fact that the Centre’s deadline of uprooting Naxalism from the country by March 31, 2026, is round the corner.

“Today, 170 Naxalites surrendered in Chhattisgarh. Yesterday, 27 had laid down their arms in the state. In Maharashtra, 61 returned to the mainstream yesterday. In total, 258 battle-hardened Left-wing extremists have abjured violence in the last two days,” Home Minister Amit Shah said in a post on X.

Since January 2024, after the BJP government was formed in Chhattisgarh, 2,100 Naxalites have surrendered, 1,785 have been arrested and 477 have been eliminated, Shah added.

The surrender also comes just two days after Mallojula Venugopal Rao, alias Sonu (70), a member of the CPI’s (Maoist) Politburo, surrendered in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli alongside 60 other cadres on October 14. With Sonu’s surrender, only nine core Central Committee members of CPI (Maoist) are now absconding.

These are Muppala Laxman Rao, Thippiri Thirupathi (reportedly the new CPI (Maoist) general secretary), Pulluri Prasad Rao, Paka Hanumanthulu, Pusunuri Narahari (all from Telangana), Misir Besra, Anal Da (both from Jharkhand) and Madavi Hidma as well as Majjidev (both from Chhattisgarh).

Shah lauded the decision of the Naxals to surrender.

“I applaud their decision to renounce violence, reposing their trust in the Constitution of India. It attests to the fact that Naxalism is breathing its last… Our policy is clear: those who want to surrender are welcome, and those who continue to wield the gun will meet the wrath of our forces,” Shah said on X.

Says no person can have any reason whatsoever to scandalise the court

Attorney General R Venkataramani on Thursday granted his consent to initiate criminal contempt of court proceedings against advocate Rakesh Kishore who attempted to hurl a shoe at CJI BR Gavai on October 6 over alleged insult to Sanatan.

“I hereby grant my consent under Section 15(1)(b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for the initiation of contempt proceedings against Rakesh Kishore before the Supreme Court,” Venkataramani said in a letter to Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Vikas Singh, who had sought his consent on the issue.

“No person can have any reason whatsoever to scandalise the court. Throwing or attempting to throw any object aimed at the Hon’ble judges, or shouting at judges to find fault with the conduct of proceedings will be scandalous. The reason said to have been given by Kishore can never be in justification of such scandalous conduct. Such acts constitute a grave affront to the dignity of the court and to the rule of law itself. From the materials placed on record, I find Kishore has not shown any repentance as regards the conduct in question as is evident from his subsequent utterances,” Venkataramani wrote.

After obtaining the Attorney General’s consent, Singh mentioned it before a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant for urgent listing. “This shoe-throwing incident cannot go unnoticed like this. This person (advocate Kishore) has no remorse. I have sought consent from the Attorney General and the criminal contempt (petition) should be listed tomorrow…Social media has gone berserk,” Singh said.

Supporting the contempt action, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, “The institutional integrity is at stake. Some action is needed.”

Agreeing to list the matter after Diwali vacations, the Bench wondered if the issue should be revived again for social media discussions, given the fact that CJI Gavai himself declined to pursue further legal action against the lawyer.

“The CJI has shown magnanimity and it shows that the institution is not affected as such,” Justice Kant noted.

The Supreme Court Bar Association has already terminated with immediate effect membership of Kishore for “grave misconduct”. The Bar Council of India, which regulates the legal profession in the country, has also suspended Kumar’s bar licence with immediate effect.

Advocate Kishore (71) on October 6 attempted to hurl a shoe at CJI Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court over alleged insult of Sanatan.

Hailing from Gurdaspur, Punjab, Capt Salaria not only saved the UN Force Headquarters in Congo, but also effectively isolated the rebels

Through a painting of the 1961 Congo clash, the Army has sent out a quiet yet powerful message — urging the United Nations to modernise its peacekeeping mandates in tune with today’s conflicts, while honouring Capt Gurbachan Singh Salaria’s ultimate sacrifice in defence of the fledgling nation.

Capt Salaria, hailing from Gurdaspur, Punjab, was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra (PVC) for his gallantry. He not only saved the UN Force Headquarters in Congo, but also effectively isolated the rebels — the Katanga Gendarmerie — who were attempting to disrupt operations in the African nation.

Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedi, while hosting a conclave (October 13-16) of countries contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions, presented a painting each, on separate days, to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Military chiefs or their representatives from 32 troop-contributing countries attended the event.

India, the largest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping missions, is seeking a broader operational mandate for such forces. The painting carried a strong message — that peacekeeping is a dangerous task, as rebels and non-state actors are often well-armed and operate outside international norms.

Jaishankar today said, “Troop-contributing countries as well as host states must be consulted while formulating mandates of peacekeeping missions.” Singh had echoed similar sentiments at the same event on October 14.

The painting depicted how Capt Salaria’s small team of about 16-18 troops was tasked with clearing a roadblock set up by secessionist Katanga gendarmes. They faced a superior enemy force of about 90 well-armed men supported by two armoured cars strategically placed to disrupt UN operations.

Commissioned into the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Gorkha Rifles in 1957, Capt Salaria launched a daring assault with his men. With the Gorkha war cry “Aayo Gorkhali!” (The Gorkhas are here!), they charged the enemy position, leading to fierce hand-to-hand combat.

Capt Salaria’s citation reads: “He led a charge with bayonets, khukuris and grenades, supported by a rocket launcher. Capt Salaria killed 40 of the enemy and knocked out two armoured cars.” His audacious action broke the resolve of the rebels, but he was fatally hit by automatic weapon fire.

Maj Gen Ian Cardozo (retd), in his 2003 book “Param Vir: Our Heroes in Battle”, wrote that Capt Salaria was born on November 29, 1935, in Janwal village near Shakargarh (now in Pakistan). His family moved to India during the Partition of 1947 and settled in Jangal village near Dinanagar in Gurdaspur district.

In the early 1960s, newly independent Congo was engulfed in a civil war after the secession of its mineral-rich Katanga province. With foreign commercial interests fuelling the unrest, the Congolese government appealed to the UN for help, leading to a peacekeeping mission being sanctioned in July 1960.

265 people had died in Ahmedabad

The father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal — the pilot who died in the June 12 crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad — and the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) have moved the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the accident in which 265 people, including both pilots and crew members, died.

Filed under Article 32 of the Constitution by Pushkaraj Sabharwal and the FIP, the petition seeks a court-monitored committee comprising a retired judge of the Supreme Court and independent aviation and technical experts to conduct a fair, transparent and technically robust probe into the crash.

It urged the top court to direct that all investigations carried out so far, including the preliminary report dated July 12, be treated as closed and all records, data and evidence be transferred to the new inquiry panel to be set up.

Terming the ongoing probe “incomplete, biased and technically unsound”, the petitioners said it undermined India’s obligations under International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Annexe 13, which mandated an independent investigation authority.

The current five-member team is dominated by officials from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the very entities responsible for regulatory oversight, thereby violating the principle of nemo judex in causa sua (no one should be a judge in their own cause), they alleged.

The AAIB report predominantly focused on the deceased pilots, who were no longer there to defend themselves and that the report failed to examine or eliminate other more plausible technical and procedural causes of the crash, the petitioners submitted.

Accusing the authorities of selectively leaking the contents of the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) to the media, they said it violated Rule 17(5) of the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017.

These leaks, they claim, fuelled a “malicious media campaign” attributing fault to the deceased pilot without corroborative evidence, amounting to state-facilitated defamation and violation of the family’s right to dignity under Article 21.

This is the second petition filed in the top court on the June 12 plane crash. The Supreme Court had on September 22 asked the Centre, the DGCA and the AAIB to respond to a PIL filed by the Safety Matters Foundation seeking an independent, fair and expeditious probe into the June 12 Air India plane crash at Ahmedabad.

Expressing concern over the selective leak of the preliminary inquiry report, which led to a media narrative blaming pilot error for the crash of the London-bound Air India Flight AI171, a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant had noted that certain aspects of the July 12 AAIB preliminary report indicating lapses on the part of the pilots were “irresponsible”.

Calling the attribution of pilot error “implausible” and “procedurally unjust,” the petitioners argue that the failure to probe design or software integration failures in Boeing’s Common Core System amounts to non-application of mind and suppression of material facts.

Sabharwal’s father said his son had an “unblemished career spanning over 30 years, with 15,638 hours of incident-free flying, including 8,596 hours on Boeing 787-8 aircraft, without a single reported lapse or incident causing fatalities or otherwise.”

The petition pointed to several technical lapses in the preliminary report.

Indian army shares Upendra Dwivedi-Kazakhstan’s counterpart photos, internet spots this painting

Join the ranks: Agniveer recruitment rally in Shimla from October 17

MoD doubles 3 grants for ex-soldiers, families

Army to get new missiles, ‘night sights’ for rifles

IAF, UK navy jets hold joint drills over Indian Ocean

Ladakh violence: Restrictions in Leh lifted after 22 days

Tri-services multi-domain exercise on futuristic warfare concludes at Northern Command

Punjab sees 5-fold rise in arms smuggling from Pak