SATURDAY COMMONWEALTH SPORTS TEAM SATISFIED WITH GUJARAT VENUES 11 A three-member CS team, led by its head Donald Rukare, visited the sporting infrastructure to assess preparations APRIL, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard EPSTEIN FILES MELANIA TRUMP DENIES LINKS US first lady has denied connections to Jeffrey Epstein, telling reporters at the White House that any claims linking the two “need to end today” PAGE 9 CHIEF RUKARE SATISFIED WITH PREPARATIONS A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  Rukare said that all the venues were inspected and his team was satisfied with preparation for the 2030 games. Venues include Narendra Modi Stadium, Veer Savarkar Sports Complex, Mahatma Mandir, and IIT-Gandhinagar. The delegation undertook a state visit from April 8 to 10 to Ahmedabad and other cities. PAGES 12 Tehran hardens stance ahead of talks with Vance Demands ceasefire in Lebanon; Vance flies to Islamabad; Iranian delegation yet to arrive A G E N C I E S @ Washington/Islamabad 42 VRINDAVAN TRAGEDY Rescue personnel during a search operation in the Yamuna river after a boat capsized near Kesi Ghat in Vrindavan on Friday. At least 10 people, primarily from Punjab, were reportedly killed, while at least 24 were rescued. The accident happened when the boat moved into deeper waters and hit a floating pontoon | PTI | P8 Marco Rubio to come calling in May J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi SECRETARY of State Marco Rubio will visit India in May, the United States announced, signalling renewed momentum in ties between New Delhi and Washington after recent strains over trade issues. The visit comes as both sides are preparing to revive negotiations aimed at sealing an interim trade agreement, indicating a shared push to their economic engagement. The announcement followed a “productive meeting” between Rubio and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri at the White House, where both sides reviewed key pillars of the bilateral relationship, including trade, critical minerals, defence cooperation, and the Quadrilat- ISI-linked spy, terror module busted; 11 held E X P R E SS N E WS S E R V I C E @ New Delhi THE Delhi Police has dismantled an inter-state terror, arms, and espionage module linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the banned outfit Babbar Khalsa International, arresting 11 people from Punjab and Delhi in two coordinated operations. The accused were in contact with Pakistanbased operatives through encrypted apps. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh, Anmol, Sahil, Atul Rathee, Rohit, Ajay, Gurjeet Singh, Rimpledeep Singh, Salwinder Singh, Harpreet Singh alias Happy, and Boota Singh. According to the police, the Pakistan-based handlers lured Indian youth by offering money generated through ille gal smuggling of drugs and arms. These individuals were tasked with capturing locations, videos, and photographs of sensitive Army and paramilitary installations. They were also instructed to install solar-powered CCTV cameras near such locations. Nine such cameras have been recovered. ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS ROLL DELETIONS REDRAW BJP, TMC FIGHT I P8 EAT AS MUCH FISH AS YOU WANT: SHAH IN BENGAL I P8 First trip to India since taking office US Secretary of State Marco Rubio eral Security Dialogue. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who attended the meeting, confirmed the upcoming visit in a post on X. “Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month,” Gor said. The envoy said that discussions with Misri focused on strengthening cooperation across stra- The visit, which will be Rubio’s first to India since assuming office, comes at a time when both countries are working to recalibrate ties after trade-related frictions, particularly over US tariff policies tegic sectors. During his three-day visit to Washington, Misri also met US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. According to the State Department, the two sides “reaffirmed the close partnership” and exchanged views on global and regional developments, including the situ- CORRUPTION PROBE IMPEACHMENT SWORD DANGLING, JUSTICE VARMA QUITS N A M I TA B A J PA I @ Lucknow ings by the probe panel infructuous. AMID initiation of impeachThe case stems from a fire ment proceedings in the Lok on March 14, 2025, in the Sabha following sacks of storeroom of Varma’s offiburnt currency notes found cial residence in Delhi, at his residential complex in where police found wads of New Delhi last year, Justice partially burnt currency Yashwant Varma resigned notes in gunny bags. Photos on Friday with imand videos of them mediate effect. burning were outed In his letter dated by the then Chief April 9, he conveyed Justice of India his ‘deep anguish’ to Sanjiv Khanna, who President Droupadi advised Varma to Murmu, while sayquit after an ining he did not wish house probe panel to burden her office pointed the finger with the reasons for of suspicion at him. his decision. By doVarma refused and ing so, he escaped was repatriated to the ignominy of bethe Allahabad High I would be doing coming the first Court without asmyself and the member of the highsigning judicial institution the er judiciary to be greatest disservice w o r k p e n d i n g sacked by Parliainquiry . by continuing to participate in the ment. Varma was By putting in his due to retire on Jan- present proceedings, papers, the judge thereby legitimising h o p e s t o h av e uary 5, 2031. Lok Sabha Speak- a process that calls dodged the bullet to er Om Birla had re- upon me to answer protect his pension. the unanswerable — cently shared that a Had he been imwhere did the three-member in- money come from peached, he would house probe comhave lost not just Justice Varma to mittee had been repension but other constituted under in-house probe panel retirement benefits t h e Ju d g e s ( I n as well. quiry) Act, 1968, against The bur ning question Varma. The committee com- though is the source of those prises Supreme Court judge smouldering currency notes Arvind Kumar, Bombay caught on camera at his DelHigh Court Chief Justice hi residence. The governShree Chandrashekhar and ment can coax him into reSenior Advocate Vasudeva vealing it, by initiating Acharya. Varma’s resigna- criminal proceedings since tion rendered all proceed- he is now a private citizen. time-consuming and complex. Iran’s Supreme National SecuAS the Pakistan-brokered lim- rity Council has indicated that ited ceasefire between the US the talks could continue for 15 and Iran appeared to hold for days, which means the 15-day the fourth day on Friday, US ceasefire would be extended. Vice President J D Vance left The truce pact is already facfor Islamabad to hold talks with ing pressure with both the US Iranian negotiators on Satur- and Iran flagging violations. Isday mor ning local rael has stepped up time. US President DAY its attack on LebaDonald Trump’s sonnon. Iran continues in-law Jared Kushner to control the Strait and special envoy Steof Hormuz and has ve Witkoff are part of not been allowing the US team. free movement of Iran’s delegation vessels, drilling holes led by Foreign Minisin Trump’s claim that ter Abbas Araghchi he got Iran to open up and Parliament the vital passage. Speaker Mohammad Taking to his social Bagher Ghalibaf was media platform Truth expected to reach IsSocial to vent his lamabad on Friday angst, Trump said evening, but has not. Iran was doing “a Hinting that Tevery poor job” in freehran might pull out, ing the Strait of HorIf the Iranians are Ghalibaf said a cease- willing to negotiate muz. “That is not the fire must take hold in in good faith, we’re agreement we have!” Lebanon and Iran’s he r ued. He also certainly willing to assets must be un- extend open hand. If threatened to strike locked before the they’re going to try again if Iran does not to play us, then talks can begin. agree to a deal. US, Iran and Paki- they’re going to find Before boarding his the negotiating team stan have conflicting is not that receptive plane, Vance warned accounts on whether Iran not to try to J D Vance Israel’s strikes on “play” the US unless Iran-backed Hezbolit wants bad results. lah in Lebanon are part of the The talks are scheduled to ceasefire agreed on April 7. happen in Islamabad’s Serena Iran and Pakistan claim Leba- Hotel. US and Iranian teams non is part of the deal; US says won’t sit across the table, but in it is not. separate rooms. Pak officials Even if the talks take place will go from one room to the as scheduled, no breakthrough other to pass messages. US DRAFTED SHARIF’S is expected on Day 1. NegotiaTRUCE APPEAL TO DON | P9 tions with Iran are known to be ation in the Persian Gulf. Separately, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker emphasized expanding cooperation in security and economic domains. “We are finding practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad,” Hooker said. The Indian Embassy in Washington said that discussions also reviewed progress since the last Foreign Office Consultations in December and covered recent developments in West Asia and other areas of mutual interest. Rubio’s upcoming visit is expected to inject momentum to the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Col Purohit, acquitted in Malegaon case, promoted to brigadier rank J A V A R I A R A N A @ New Delhi NEARLY two decades after the Malegaon blast case derailed his career, Army officer Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit has been promoted to the rank of Brigadier. He was acquitted in the case last year. Col Purohit, who was a Lieutenant Colonel when he was named in the case in 2008, rose to the rank of Colonel subsequently through time scale promotion during the prolonged course of the trial. The Military Intelligence officer was acquitted in 2025 by a special NIA court after a 17year legal battle. He was due to retire on March 31, 2026 as 54 years is the retirement age for Colonel, but the Armed Forces Army officer Shrikant Prasad Purohit Tribunal put his retirement on hold, keeping him in service and within the promotion pipeline. Col Purohit had moved the tribunal seeking consequential benefits including promotion following his acquittal. In its order staying his retirement, the tribunal observed that “he was denied promotion on account of the illegal and fabricated manner in which he was implicated in the case, which was clearly established by the criminal court while acquitting him.” The retirement age for officers of the Brigadier rank is 56 years and the promotion effectively extends Col Purohit’s service till March 31, 2028. Army sources said the tribunal’s intervention was the key factor, as continuity in service is a prerequisite for consideration by promotion boards. His case has long highlighted the institutional dilemma facing the Army when officers get entangled in prolonged criminal proceedings. Though he was granted bail in 2017 and rejoined service, he remained under suspension until July 2020. GUEST CAPACITY HC: Fire NOC exemption to Khan Market restaurants U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi THE Delhi High Court on Friday allowed restaurants in Khan Market to operate without no-objection certificates (NOCs) from the Fire Department if they house fewer than 50 guests at a time. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the order after taking on record an undertaking given by the Khan Market restaurant owners that they would abide by any other possible mechanism to ensure safety measures as may be directed by the Fire Department and other authorities. “The shops are situated in one of Delhi’s most prestigious and historically significant commercial areas. It is also a heritage market. Its iconic and unique architecture, character and culture are well established. Because of the structural constraints, the entire market has only one feasible entry and exit point for first and second floor where the restaurants are located. This feature is in existence since the inception,” the judge said. The judge said since the petitioners were ready and willing to abide by all other safety measures of the government departments, “there should not be any reason to disallow the petitioners only on account of structural constraints”. The judge was hearing petitions filed by restaurants operating in Khan Market, including Perch, Yum Yum Cha, Starbucks Coffee, Khan Chacha, Anglow, and Sly Granny . The petitioners argued that they obtained the requisite licenses and approvals from the authorities, which was subjected to periodic renewal. In most cases, on account of non renewal or non-issuance of licenses, the necessary per missions were recalled. They said that they did not qualify as “assembly building”, for which the restricts apply . HARIVANSH NOMINATED TO THE RAJYA SABHA Rajya Sabha’s outgoing deputy chairman Harivansh on Friday took oath as a member of the Upper House after President Droupadi Murmu nominated him following a vacancy created by the retirement of former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Harivansh’s second term in RS ended on April 9 | P7 ‘Dignified names’: Raj to police what you’re called R A J E S H A S N A N I @ Jaipur IF you have ever winced while answering to “Kajormal” or “Sheru”, relief may be on the way. The Rajasthan government has unveiled a plan to swap out awkward names for more “meaningful” ones, courtesy of the newly minted Sarthak Naam Abhiyan. Announced at Jaipur’s Shiksha Sankul earlier this week, Education Minister Madan Dilawar argued some traditional names, however well intentioned, can invite ridicule and dent confidence. His exhibit A: Kajormal and Sheru, now unofficial mascots of the problem. The department has compiled roughly 1,500 alternatives, promising something dignified for every child. The minister said that in some communities, names are perceived as disrespectful; in such cases, provisions will be made to change both first names and surnames in a “dignified” manner. Schools will raise the topic with parents during admissions. Officials say the aim is sim- ple: spare children embarrassment and bolster self-esteem. Critics hear something louder. Sociologist Rajiv Gupta is forthright: “Parents nametheir children based on local customs, language, and beliefs. replacing them under pressure with ones deemed ‘decent’, means this idea of‘decency’ becomes directly linked to a process of cultural homogenisation.” Others see politics in the syl- Compiled 1,500 alternatives, says edu dept The education dept has compiled 1500 alternatives, promising something dignified for every child. In some communities, names are perceived as disrespectful; provisions will be made to change both first names and surnames in a “dignified” manner, the dept said. lables. Parent representative Abhishek Jain Bittu says the ministry is chasing a sliver of cases while fee hikes, textbook quirks, and RTE admissions sit unattended. Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas calls naming a parental prerogative, not a bureaucratic hobby . For now, the state promises consent and choice. Students named Sheru might yet graduate as something grander, or not. But Gupta says it’s part of the agenda to change names of roads, buildings and schemes to propagate Hinduism. If Dilawar gets his way name , dropping will acquire a new meaning in Rajasthan.