Cheating case against agro-forestry firm
Tribune News Service

PANCHKULA, June 29 — Yet another case has been registered against a Mani Majra-based agro-forestry company, Surbhi Forests India Ltd, for allegedly cheating at least 16 investors of over Rs 6.80 lakh.

Seven persons, including the Chairman of the company, have been booked by the police.

According to information available, Mr Suresh Kumar and Mr Omi Sharma, both from Rohtak, along with 16 other investors, complained to the police that they had invested Rs 6,87,560 with the company in fixed deposits. The money was paid through bank drafts.

When the investors asked for the return of the money after the maturity period, they were paid false cheques.

A case under Sections 406, 420 and 120-B, IPC, has been registered against Usha Kiran Chaturvedi, Chairman, and Aswani Kaushik, Jyoti Kaushik, Prem Parkash, Vijay Kumar and Nahar Singh, all directors of the company.

Only a fortnight ago a similar case was registered against these persons for cheating an investor of Rs 5.06 lakh.

Injured: Two girls, who were riding a moped, were injured when they were hit by a speeding Haryana Roadways bus on a road dividing Sectors 2 and 5 here last evening.

Both the girls, Sonia (19),a college student of Sector 2 here, and Ms Saveta (15), a school student of Sector 21, Chandigarh, were rushed to the PGI. While Sonia was reported to be out of danger, Saveta was admitted in the emergency ward.

The moped was badly damaged in the mishap.

The driver of the bus, Sarif Singh, who had fled the scene of the accident, has been arrested by the police. A case under Sections 279, 337 and 427 of the IPC has been registered against him.

In another case, a Maruti car was sandwiched between two buses near the Kalka barrier yesterday. Mr Devinder Singh, a resident of Abdulapur in Pinjore, who was driving the car, was injured in the mishap.

The Kalka police has registered a case against the two bus drivers on the basis of a statement given by the victim, who stated that while he reached near the Kalka barrier the driver of a bus going in front his car suddenly applied brakes.

As a result another bus coming from behind hit his vehicle.

Theft: Burglars broke into a house in Sector 7 here and decamped with valuables worth thousands of rupees. The occupants were away to the USA. The information of theft was provided to the police by Mr Vidur Sehgal, a relative of the owner of the house.

Body found: The body of a youth was found lying under mysterious circumstances near a construction site in the Mansa Devi Complex here this morning. There were no visible signs of injury on the body.

Though the findings of the autopsy, conducted at General Hospital here, is yet to come, the police suspects that the deceased fell from a height.

CHANDIGARH

Found dead: A 30-year-old employee of a guest house in Sector 8, Narayan Singh, was found dead under mysterious circumstances in the guest house.

According to the police, he was suffering from epilepsy. However, the Garhwal Sabha said that it was a mysterious death.

Company told to pay interest, costs
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-II has directed Singer India Ltd to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on an amount of Rs 9,000, besides Rs 550 as costs, for its failure to supply the requisite accessories along with the sewing machine at the time of purchase.

In her complaint before the forum, Mrs Amarjeet Kaur had contended that she had purchased a sewing machine, Fashion Maker, from Singer Centre, Singer India Ltd, Sector 22, on March 2, 1995, for Rs 9,000. Since the accessories permissible were not in stock with the dealer, the same were not supplied. She further averred that she could not use the machine for want of those accessories. As a result the very purpose of purchasing the machine was frustrated as being poor and a widow, she wanted to earn her livelihood by working on that machine. She visited the dealer a number of times but to no avail.

In the reply, the respondents admitted that at the time of the sale of the sewing machine the accessories were not in stock. However, the complainant had in the list mentioned some additional accessories, which were not to be supplied along with the machine and could be supplied only on payment.

During the pendency of the case, the accessories were first offered by the company on August 6, 1998, but the same were not accepted then. They were, however, finally delivered to the complainant on May 14, 1999, and they also agreed to allow the warranty of the machine from the date the accessories were handed over.

The Forum bench comprising its President, Mr R.P Bajaj, and members, Mr H.S Walia and Mrs Kamlesh Gupta, held that the complainant was deprived of her investment of Rs 9,000 for the period during which the requisite accessories were not supplied to her. Consequently, the forum directed the company to pay interest at the rate of 12 per cent per annum on the amount of Rs 9,000 from March 2, 1995, the date of purchase till August 6, 1998.

However, the period of warranty admissible on the machine will be from May 14, 1999, the date on which the accessories were actually supplied to the complainant. They further asked the company to detail a mechanic to the premises of the complainant to demonstrate to her the effective use of the machine and the accessories thereof

Cooler not supplied: The UT Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I has directed Symphony Comforts Systems, Ahmedabad, to pay Rs 1,000 as compensation to a consumer for not keeping the promise of supplying a cooler to the consumer within seven days of purchase.

In his complaint, Mr Pankaj Singla had mentioned that he had remitted Rs 4,563 for purchasing a cooler on reading an advertisement wherein it was written in bold letters that the cooler would be despatched within seven days. He further contended that he would have gone for some other cooler had the advertisement not promised quick delivery of the product. He thus claimed compensation since the entire purpose of buying the cooler had been defeated on account of its late delivery.

The forum bench, comprising its President, Mr H.C Modi, and members, Mrs Shashi Kanta and Mr R.K Behl, held the company guilty of deficiency in service since despite a promise the actual delivery was made after the expiry of six weeks. They further observed that had the company not promised to deliver the cooler within seven days, the case would have been viewed from a different angle.

Anti-malaria camp at Mauli Jagran
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — The Malaria Wing of the Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh (MCC) organised an anti-malaria camp at Mauli Jagran here today.

As many as 356 blood samples were collected and tested. Presumptive treatment was administered to all cases surveyed by the teams of the wing.

The residents were educated about the causes of malaria and potential sources of mosquito-breeding through a live demonstration. The Assistant Director of the Malaria Wing, Dr G. C. Bansal, held a group discussion with residents of the village on prevention and control of malaria.

Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, area councillor, was among those present.

Ration cards distributed: The Mayor, Mr Kewal Krishan Addiwal, on Tuesday distributed ration cards to residents of Janata Colony, Sector 25, whose names figured in the voters' list.

Fruit prices increase
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Even as the prices of most fruits have not shown any major fluctuation, cherry, plum, mausambi and the 'safeda' variety of mango have become dearer in the local market during the past two days.

During a survey of the local market it was found that a kg of cherry, priced at Rs 60 to Rs 80 a kg just two or three days back, was priced at Rs 100 in different city markets today. The wholesale price of the fruit has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 80 a kg. According to traders, the price hike was an outcome of lesser arrivals from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh during this period, "Actually the crop is at its fag end and is likely to vanish from the market within this week," said a trader.

Similarly, plum witnessed a hike in its price during this period. A kg of the fruit, priced between Rs 20 and Rs 30, was available today for Rs 40 a kg. The wholesale price of the fruit has increased from Rs 200 to Rs 250 per 10 kg pack. The traders attributed the hike to lesser arrivals of the fruit from Himachal Pradesh. Mausambi has also lost much of its charm as it has started going out of the reach of the common man with a dozen of the fruit priced at Rs 70. The wholesale price has increased from Rs 150 to Rs 175 per three dozens.

Barring 'safeda' variety there was no hike in the price of mango. A kg of 'safeda' mango priced at Rs 20 to Rs 25 two days back, was priced today at Rs 30 in different city markets. The wholesale price of the fruit has increased from Rs 325 to Rs 375 per 15 kg pack. The traders said the hike was owing to shrinking arrivals from Hyderabad as the crop was almost over.

On the other hand there was no fluctuation in the price of other varieties such as "dasehri" and "kupi" as these were priced at Rs 25 and Rs 30 a kg, respectively. Similarly, 'jamun' was stable at Rs 40 a kg in retail and Rs 35 a kg in the wholesale market. A kg of 'chikoo' was priced at Rs 30 in retail and Rs 20 in the wholesale market.

One could buy a dozen bananas for Rs 20, while apple could be had after paying Rs 50 per kg. Lesser arrivals have resulted in a hike of the price of pomegranate from Rs 40 to Rs 60 a kg. If a kg of watermelon could be purchased for Rs 5, a similar quantity of melon could be fetched after paying Rs 15 a kg in retail and Rs 12 a kg in the wholesale market. 'Litchi' was stable at Rs 50 a kg.

Varun, Nadia win titles
By Our Sports Reporter

CHANDIGARH, June 29 — Varun Kassal and Nadia Saini today bagged the subjunior girls and boys titles, respectively, in the Chandigarh Ranking Table Tennis tournament in progress here at the Sector 23 TT Hall.

Varun of Ajit Singh Karam Singh International Public School, Sector 45, prevailed over Ramit Singla of Shishu Niketan School, sector 22, in two straight games at 21-16, 23-21. In the girls section, Nadia of DAV Public School, Sector 8, had to face a stiff challenge from Ruchi Gautam, also of the same school, before the former could won at 11-21, 21-19, 21-19.

In the junior boys semi-final, Harpreet Singh and Rahul Sharma, respectively, won their matches against Sumit and Varun and will clash with each other in the final. Nadia and Manu KC stormed into the final of the junior girls section when they got the better of Anuradha and Smitha, respectively, in the semi- finals.

The following are the results:

Subjunior girls (Semi-finals): Ruchi Gautam b Megha Kassal 21-17, 16-21, 21-13; Nadia Saini b Ramanpreet Kaur 26-24, 12-21, 21-18.

Subjunior boys (Semi-finals): Varun Kassal b Mandeep Singh 16-21, 21-16, 21-15; Ramit Singla b Aditya Puri 21-18, 21-11, 23-21.

Junior boys (Quarter-finals): Sumit Grover b Karan Mahajan 21-11, 15-21, 21-19; Rahul Sharma b Mandeep Singh 12-21, 21-19, 21-18; Harpreet Singh b Ramit 21-13, 21-18; Varun Kassal b Inderpreet Singh 21-18, 21-16.

Semi-finals: Harpreet Singh b Sumit Grover 21-16, 21-12, 21-19; Rahul Sharma b Varun Kassal 18-21, 22-20, 23-21, 21-12.

Junior Girls( Quarter-finals): Manu KC b Ramanpreet Kaur 21-12, 25-23; Nadia Saini b Radhika Gupta 24-22 ,21-19; Smitha Kapoor b Ruchi Gautam 21-17, 21-14; Anuradha Bansal b Amarpreet Kaur 24-22, 21-14.

Semi-finals: Nadia Saini b Anuradha Bansal, 21-18, 22-20, 21-19, 21-16; Manu KC b Smitha Kapoor 21-19, 16-21, 21-16, 21-18.

Shweta Vyas wins: Shweta Vyas headed the girls Pool A on the second day of the Chandigarh Ball Badminton Ranking Tournament being played here at Shivalik Public School, Sector 41, here on Tuesday.

The following are the results :

Boys Pool A: Gurinder Gill b Divya Roop 15-7, 15-11; Amit Choudhry b Lakhbir Singh 15-12, 15-9; Vikrant Singh b Ajit Singh 15-0, 15-3; Gurwinder Bajwa lost to Lakhbir Singh 10-15, 13-15; Amit Choudhry b Divya Roop 15-11, 15-7; Vikrant Singh b Divya Roop 15-6, 15-3.

Boys Pool B: Arun b Harsimran, 15-5, 15-5; Vishal b Amit Bhalla 15-11, 15-8; Sanjay b Maninder 13-15, 15-7; Arun b Vishal 15-9, 15-10; Mukesh b Sanjay 15-5, 15-2; Vishal b Maninder 15-4, 15-3; Mukesh b Amit Bhalla 15-10, 15-5.

Girls Pool A: Shweta Vyas b Jagdeep 15-4, 15-8; Anisha Bhatti b Jagdeep 15-4, 15-5; Jagdeep Kaur b Shefali, 15-6, 15-9; Shweta b Anisha Bhatti 15-7, 15-7; Monika Dhiman b Jagdeep Kaur 15-2, 15-5.

Girls Pool B: Monika Panjla b Gurjit Kaur 15-13,15-7; Sonika b Rohini 15-5, 15-3.