TUESDAY 04 AUGUST, 2026 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard TRUCE TROUBLE 2 weeks IRAN SAYS NOT IN TALKS WITH US Iran denied any negotiations were taking place with the United States after US President Donald Trump said new talks would begin Monday A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 Court acquits Brij Bhushan, appalled Phogat to fight on ‘We haven’t lost hope’ U D AYA N K I S H O R E & 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. 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.” 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 HOW THE CASE UNFOLDED 2023 2024 2025 Apr 23, 2023 Women wrestlers protest at Jantar Mantar for Singh’s arrest Apr 25 SC takes note of 7 wrestlers’ plea, including a minor Jun 15 Delhi Police files chargesheet against Singh, WFI assistant secretary Vinod Tomar Vinesh Phogat 2026  NEW DELHI Both accused get regular bail May 21, 2024 Court frames charges in the case Jun 1 May 26, 2025 Closes case lodged by minor wrestler Jul 2, 2026 Court reserves order Aug 3 Court starts trial of the case Court acquits Singh and Vinod Tomar J8.00 RAMASHANKAR, ANURAAG SINGH & D I L I P S I N G H K S H AT R I YA @ Patna/Bhopal/Ahmedabad 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 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- 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 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE A woman teacher was stabbed to death inside a school in Faridabad on Monday morning. Police said the accused, who had allegedly been stalking her, attacked her after she stopped speaking to him and cut off all contact. The attack took place around 9.30 am at Saraswati Senior Secondary School in Sikrona village. Police said the teacher was stabbed 15 to 20 times in the chest and neck. A case was registered at Sector 58 police station on the posure through joint training programmes 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. “Military of ficers EXPRESS READ FIR over scuffle at Pappu’s residence The Delhi Police has registered an FIR in connection with the alleged assault and obstruction of police personnel during a scuffle at Independent MP Pappu Yadav’s Delhi residence, where a press conference was under way, officials privy to the matter said on Monday. P3 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. P8 Cauvery water from K’taka: TN moves SC E X P R E S S N E W S E R V I C E @ New Delhi/Chennai THE Tamil Nadu government led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking directions to Karnataka for immediate release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. As per a source in the top court registry, the plea may be taken Approval of up for hearing soon. Tamil Nadu told the court that there guv scrapped is no practical hurdle for Karnataka to In a move to release the TN’s proportional due strengthen CM share of water. Citing heavy rain in Vijay’s control, KRS and Kabini catchment areas that the government has increased inflows into the dams in has scrapped the Karnataka, the state said the upper practice of riparian state has failed even to release seeking prior 3,500 cusecs of water for 15 days as or- approval of the dered by the Cauvery Water Regula- governor in the tion Committee (CWRC) and the Cau- appointments of very Water Management Authority . chief secretary An official release from the state and DGP. P5 government said that the CWRC, at its 139th meeting held on July 28, directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs from July 29 for a period of 15 days ending August 12. Faridabad teacher killed by stalker inside school complaint of the victim’s husband. Police said the accused was arrested within two hours of the incident. CCTV footage of the attack, which has surfaced on social media, shows the accused waiting at the school’s main gate with his face covered by a scarf. As the teacher arrived, he pulled out a knife concealed in his pants and repeatedly stabbed her. A school staff member tried to intervene, but the accused threatened him with the knife before fleeing on a motorcycle. HC asks MCD, NDMC to start dog sterilisation Smooth travel from city to Noida airport soon The Delhi HC on Monday asked the civic authorities in the city to start a pilot programme for the sterilisation of stray dogs. It asked the MCD and the NDMC to hold a sterilisation camp in one ward each while publicising that the strays were not being captured or taken away. P3 To boost footfall at the Noida International Airport (NIA) at Jewar, a ground transportation network has been put in place to make commuting a seamless experience for flyers. A key move in the pipeline is the operation of DTC buses from different parts of Delhi to the NIA. P4 School administrator Tejpal, who witnessed the attack, said the victim had been teaching at the school for about a year. “Around 9:30 am, I was sitting in the office when I suddenly heard screams. When I went outside, I saw her lying on the ground and a man repeatedly attacking her with a knife. I tried to threaten him, but then he came running towards me with the knife as well. By the time I could retaliate, he had already attacked her and fled. He was alone and had come on a bike,” he said. Tejpal said he informed the police and rushed the teacher to Al-Falah Hospital, where doctors declared her dead. The Faridabad Police’s crime branch activated its informer network and used technical surveillance to trace the accused. The AVTS Sikrona team arrested Amit, 21, a resid e n t o f Ko t v i l l a g e i n Faridabad. During preliminary questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that he attacked the teacher because she had stopped speaking to him and wanted to end all communication with him. PAPER LEAK PROTESTS Military-civilian integration a must: Rajnath was critical to creating genuine 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-ex- Ensure proper demarcation, govt told “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 Cong holds on to Datia in bypoll, BJP retains Manjalpur in Gujarat GENUINE SYNERGY J A V A R I A R A N A @ New Delhi PAGES 12  The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to ensure every road has an encroachment-free space for pedestrians Wake-up call for Bihar CM as PK grabs BJP safe seat @ Faridabad Jul 20  LATER IS WHEN THE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR THE MATTER AGAIN ENCROACHMENT-FREE FOOTPATH MUST ON EVERY ROAD: SC TO GOVT 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. 6.5% LIC 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 State govts can close or withdraw FIRs: SC S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi 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 Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana also clarified that the expression “criminal antecedents” in its July 28 order on releasing Meta tells Parl student protesters referred only to panel it’s ready those involved in grave and heinous to apologise offences. Meta told a On July 28, the court ordered the parliamentary panel release of all student protesters, ex- on Monday that it is cept those with “criminal anteced- ready to apologise for ents”. Monday’s clarification came the brief restriction after petitioners raised concerns that on a post by Prime the expression “criminal anteced- Minister Narendra ents” could impede the withdrawal Modi recently on of FIRs. “It is clarified for the July Facebook | P10 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. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said FIRs against more than 2,700 people with antecedents involving grave and heinous offences would not be withdrawn. “Except them, everything can be taken care of,” Mehta told the court. B’desh objects to Hasina’s Aug 5 address J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi BANGLADESH has formally conveyed its concerns to India over the decision of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina—who remains in India after fleeing Dhaka last year—to deliver a virtual address on August 5. It has warned such an event could adversely affect the recent improvement in bilateral ties. The issue figured prominently during a meeting on Monday between Bangladesh’s foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir and India’s newly appointed high commissioner to Dhaka, Dinesh Trivedi, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon. According to an official statement issued by Bangladesh, Dhaka specifically flagged “news circulating on social media” that the “fugitive Sheikh Hasina” may deliver a public speech on August 5 and sought India’s cooperation to prevent its territory from being used for political activities targeting Bangladesh. “Bangladesh expects India’s cooperation to ensure that no person belonging to organisations whose activities are banned, including the fugitive Sheikh Hasina, can use Indian territory to deliver political speeches,” an official statement quoting Kabir read.