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India Today's investigative broadcast reveals Operation Smog Syndicate, exposing how banned BS4 diesel buses evade Graded Response Action Plan curbs in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh through systemic bribery of transport officials and police.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your prime time destination news, newsmakers, talking points.
00:07This Wednesday night, our big talking point is Operation Smog Syndicate.
00:13We expose just how pollution norms are being violated and who will break the pollution nexus.
00:21That's our special investigation tonight.
00:23Also, we'll be telling you about the cricket book that's creating waves across the world.
00:30Australian retired cricketer Usman Khwaja exposes ball trampering in the Australian team.
00:37All the Australians now need to come clean on their role.
00:42We'll talk about that too.
00:43But first, as always, it's time to get cracking with the nine headlines at nine tonight.
00:51Terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgaan district.
00:55Bike-born terrorists open fire at a CRPF check post.
00:59Three jawans injured and are currently out of danger.
01:02Search ops on to nab the terrorists.
01:08The national capital region's air quality remains in the very poor category.
01:13India Today investigation exposes how pollution norms are being openly violated.
01:17Schools in Noida and Greater Noida are shifting to a hybrid mode.
01:26Tamil Nadu government under fire after three murders reported in the state in just 24 hours.
01:32Chief Minister Vijay holds a key meeting with TVK MLA's top police officials.
01:37Centre seeks governor's assessment on rising crimes.
01:43NSUI leader suspended by a Delhi college amidst allegations of luring DU girls for NRI clients.
01:51BJP rains fire on Congress and NSUI denies link.
01:55Claims Khan was suspended from the party during Doosu polls in September.
02:02Milk gets costlier across the national capital region from Thursday after Mother Dairy and Amul increased prices by Rs. 2
02:09to Rs. 6 per litre.
02:11Move comes amidst lower milk supplies and higher costs of buying milk from farmers.
02:17Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan lands in a soup over her Diwali look.
02:21Congress Neta sends legal notice to the actor of a Quran-inscribed royal pendant.
02:26Notice seeks removals of photographs. Apology from Kareena.
02:33Moody raises India's financial year 27 growth forecast to 7% from 6.5.
02:39Agency points to strong economic momentum, ability to absorb energy supply shocks.
02:48Another round of hoax bomb threats in Europe.
02:50This time threats issued to schools across Italy, UK, Ireland.
02:54Threat claims that bomb was planted in Italian Prime Minister Meloni's car.
03:00India's first ever farmer roundtable on India Today platform.
03:04Union Minister Chirag Paswan inaugurates the roundtable.
03:07Prime Minister Modi to deliver the concluding plenary address tomorrow at 8pm.
03:25The story that's breaking at the moment.
03:27A terror attack in Kulgaam in the Kashmir Valley.
03:31Three CRPF jawans have been injured and the encounter has only just concluded.
03:38White-born terrorists opened fire at a CRPF post.
03:41All three CRPF jawans are currently out of danger.
03:45Security has been strengthened across southern Kashmir.
03:48The terrorists are absconding.
03:50But the search operation is underway.
03:54That's the big story that's coming in at the moment from Jammu and Kashmir.
03:58Remember, the last terror strike that was reported was when migrants were targeted more than four months ago.
04:07Meir Fareed is our man on the spot.
04:09Meir, it's after a while that we've seen terrorists strike at a CRPF camp in this instance in Kulgaam.
04:17Can you give us more details of what is happening on the ground?
04:23Well, Rajdeep, as is the SOP, the Army CRPF police are in fact on job.
04:31The QRTs are there.
04:33Various locations are under search right now.
04:36Several areas cordoned off and that really is the SOP because first few hours after such an attack are crucial
04:42if you want to catch the assailants.
04:45Now, this is a surprise attack.
04:47As you said, after four months, there's been a period of calm as far as Kashmir is concerned.
04:52But suddenly, it seems the intent was to show their presence of late.
04:57We've seen the government at various levels really talking about normalcy, how they have managed to control the situation in
05:04Kashmir, bring down terror-related incidents.
05:07And then, as they're saying this, it seems that they wanted to show their presence, send this message that they're
05:14still capable and they can carry out an attack.
05:18Now, Rajdeep, interestingly, an attack happened on a day when the Lieutenant Governor was there in Kulgaam.
05:23There was a Vesho festival and he was there to participate.
05:27And while he was doing that, this attack happened in the same district.
05:32So, that angle is also being probed whether the intent was to send a message at a time when the
05:38LG, who takes care of the law and order in Jaman and Kashmir, was there.
05:43So, that is the other part of the story.
05:45But yes, right now, intense search operation is underway and multiple forces on the ground and trying to track down
05:52these assailants.
05:53Because till the time they're out, they are a threat.
05:55They have carried out this attack so they can carry out more.
05:58So, before they do it, they're trying to catch them and really neutralize them so that they cannot really carry
06:05out more such strikes.
06:07Rajdeep?
06:07Very quickly, has any group claimed responsibility?
06:12Well, as of now, no group has claimed responsibility.
06:15But our source and the security apparatus say that the way this attack has been carried out, the shoot and
06:21scoot, the modus operandi,
06:23it seems that it is the Lashkar.
06:25It is the Lashkar and of late, they have operated in different names like the TRF, Kashmir Tigers, the Resistance
06:32Front.
06:32So, it could be any of them.
06:35But the suspicion is that Lashkar is behind it.
06:38But as I said, further investigations are underway.
06:41Okay, Meer Farid, joining us there with our top story coming in from Jammu and Kashmir.
06:47Let's from there turn to the national capital.
06:50Guess what?
06:51Continues to choke under toxic air.
06:54The Grap restrictions are enforced.
06:57BS4 diesel buses are being banned, have been banned.
07:01But are these restrictions really being enforced on the ground?
07:05Tonight, we bring you a special investigation.
07:08India Today's Operation Smog Syndicate has uncovered that banned buses are running on Delhi's roads
07:15through payments, contacts and a network of settings stretching from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh.
07:22Nitin Jain with tonight's special report.
07:41As pollution rises in Delhi, Grap restrictions come into force.
07:46Questions are also raised about banning BS4 diesel buses.
07:50But our investigation uncovered a network where bus operators claim that whether it's a BS4 bus or a pollution ban,
07:58their vehicles will keep running in Delhi.
08:02How?
08:03Who will give this guarantee?
08:04And is a complete system of entry and quote-unquote setting operating for buses from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh.
08:12We approached operators saying we had bought a bus and wanted to start a new route from Delhi to Deopan.
08:19We clearly stated that our bus was a 2015 model BS4 diesel bus.
08:24At a time when action is taken against vehicles in the name of pollution,
08:28we asked the operators how our bus would run in Delhi.
08:32During this inquiry, we met Asif and his partner Nadeem.
08:37Both are seasoned operators in the Dugga Maari or illegal interstate bus business.
08:42We made it clear to both of them on multiple occasions that our vehicle was BS4.
08:47Would it be able to run?
08:49Listen to their replies.
08:53Other than the other ones from Delhi bids from Delhi bids?
09:17Yes.
09:24Yes.
09:25Yes.
09:26Yes.
09:28Yes.
09:47Asif explained the full calculation from Delhi entry all the way to the Uttar Pradesh routes.
09:53According to him, the cost for bus entry in Delhi was stated as Rs. 60,000 to Rs. 70,000.
10:00He also detailed alleged payments at Delhi traffic signals, police posts and RTO.
10:26To identify the buses, alleged identifiers are also put.
10:31Asif claims there are marks for both Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
10:34Once the mark is applied, the bus number gets registered and operations continue every month through payments.
10:41Do you have a mark in Delhi?
10:45Do you have a mark in Delhi?
10:47Yes.
10:48I am not sure.
10:48No, no, no.
10:48I have not said that it is on the UP, but also in Delhi.
10:50No, it is on the UP mark.
10:52Yes, it is on the UP mark.
10:55You have not a mark in Delhi.
10:55No, no.
10:56We have a mark in Delhi.
10:56The car is on the basis to go to the 600.
10:57The car is on the list of two marks on the UP and Delhi.
11:00Ok.
11:01Does the mark in Delhi every month or all alone stay in the place?
11:05It does not go in the month.
11:05It is on the mark.
11:06It goes in the month.
11:18Not just Delhi, alleged payments were also described on the Uttar Pradesh side.
11:23Beyond Khajuri, several police posts and RTOs come up till Ghaziabad, Baatpat and Deobat.
11:29According to Asif, by paying different amounts at these places, arrangements can be made
11:34to let the bus pass without hindrance.
11:52This network is not limited to passenger buses.
11:55It also includes possibilities of goods transport.
11:58Nadeem and Asif said that once goods start moving in the buses, they also plan to make
12:03alleged entries with the sales tax department.
12:06Meaning first passengers, then goods and alleged setting arrangements at every level.
12:13On one hand, Delhi is struggling with pollution.
12:16On the other hand, in our investigation, bus operators claim that through money and settings,
12:21buses can be run from Delhi to Uttar Pradesh without any obstruction.
12:25The question is not only about BS4 buses.
12:28The question is whether a network of alleged extortion is running in the name of the very
12:32departments responsible for enforcing transport rules in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
12:37Are grap and pollution restrictions only for common people or does a way exist to bypass
12:43them by paying money?
12:45These are the shocking claims that emerged in our investigation.
12:48Will police, traffic police, transport department and administration answer?
12:54With Nitin Jain, Bureau Report, India Today.
13:01Our reporters then went and dug even deeper.
13:04They found many other operators who were helping bus owners flout the pollution norms.
13:09Listen to this report where the operator reveals the modus operandi.
13:30These buses cover hundreds of kilometres from Delhi to NCR, from NCR to western Uttar Pradesh.
13:36They take passengers to their destinations.
13:39But the question is, do these buses have valid permission to run in Delhi?
13:47Or are these buses running their business by bypassing government rules using a corrupt nexus
13:53with cops and baboos?
14:02We met a bus operator named Rajbir who gave us shocking details.
14:28Duggamari, meaning bus operations in which passengers are allegedly carried by sidelining valid permits and rules.
14:35But to run this business, only a bus and driver are not enough.
14:41According to Rajbir, to run a bus, they need to pay at every traffic signal.
14:46They are going to stay active with us.
14:50How long can you come to Delhi?
14:53I'm looking for the number of people.
14:56What amount was going to Delhi?
14:56I'm having a bus, and I'm getting to go a bus for the driver.
14:58This was over-sidelining a bus.
15:01We are getting too much in Delhi, that's near the bus, and I'm getting to pay for two miles.
15:02That's the number?
15:02I'm getting to come.
15:04I'm getting to go.
15:05I'm getting to go the bus and I'm getting to go.
15:11Thank you for my travels.
15:12So, before the car is going to watch the car, I'm getting to go now.
15:22A point of 1,500 rupees to 2,000 rupees to run a bus in Delhi.
15:29But who gets the money and how?
15:35Rajbir's words raise serious questions over corruption on Delhi's roads.
15:45So, he goes in to the prison and puts him in the prison and is in prison.
15:49He jumps in the prison, he checks down.
15:55Checking is done before.
15:58He says, are you still here?
16:02Yes, will you beiegward?
16:06Rajbir's name is your name.
16:09And the name of Rajbir's name is your name.
16:17According to Rajbeer, the entire arrangement is run through phone calls and everyone from
16:22RTOs to police thanas has their cuts.
16:27For example, a Gurugram to Bareli route comes at an expense of around Rs. 160,000.
16:49Rajbeer reveals that despite the ban on non-BS6 buses, his connections get the buses
16:58flying.
17:28The checks are stringent on paper to stop air pollution.
17:32But how effective are they on the roads?
17:34Is Delhi losing its war to the smog syndicate?
17:39With Nitin Jain, Bureau Report, India Today.
17:46Let's raise the big questions on the show tonight.
17:49No enforcement, no accountability.
17:51Is that the mantra?
17:52Who is actually going to end this pollution nexus that exists on the ground?
17:57When will this fight against pollution actually become a priority?
18:01We'll walk the talk and not just words but action.
18:05Yashu Vardhan Azad, former IPS officer is with us.
18:08Ronak Sutaria is CEO, Respirator Living Sciences.
18:11Harinder Dhingra is environmentalist and RTI activist.
18:15I appreciate all three of you joining us.
18:18Yashu Vardhan Azad, let me come to you because at the end of the day, enforcement means people on the
18:24ground,
18:24including the police, recognizing what the law says and enforcing the pollution norms for cars.
18:31As our sting operation has shown, operators are claiming payments of 60,000, 70,000, including for passing red lights,
18:40handing over to cops, will ensure the passage of BS4 diesel buses, despite the grab restrictions.
18:46It suggests that there is either no enforcement or very little enforcement or accountability on the ground.
18:54Well, forget about the enforcement.
18:56I think this is an organized racket in which the RTOs, the policemen, the the pollution guys all are involved.
19:05But the most important part is that after the sting operation, which I've seen is absolutely brilliantly done, the person
19:14who should be dismissed is the chief of the committee of the air quality management.
19:19I mean, try and appreciate, Rajdeep, that the committee for air quality management was made after much thought and deliberation.
19:29And the chairman is an IS Babu, as usual.
19:32It's never a pollution, CACB, pollution authority guy who's given the enforcement powers.
19:41They have the entire army behind them.
19:44They have all the states environment secretaries.
19:48Tell me, don't they know about these buses, the list of buses who are passing through?
19:54Don't they know that who are the who are the owners, who are the ones who have been issued the
20:01BS6 standards because it has been, you know, banned?
20:06But isn't that a responsibility of the police also?
20:09Why are you putting it only on the Babus at the moment?
20:11The cops are on the ground.
20:12No, I said it's an organized racket involving the RTO and the police.
20:17But do you think that it's enough to suspend a couple of sub-inspectors from the RTO department and these?
20:25Are these enough?
20:26No.
20:27It's a racket which can easily be exposed and which can easily be handled if the CAQM does its job.
20:35No, no, no.
20:35I'm not talking about sub-inspectors.
20:37Can such a widespread bribery network, Mr. Azad, operate without the knowledge of senior police officers?
20:44Well, it can.
20:46It can.
20:47Certainly can.
20:47Because I don't think that everyone is involved in this kind of a racket.
20:52But what I'm saying is, why don't you use technology?
20:56Why don't you use RFID?
20:57Why don't you use automatic recognition at these various places?
21:01What is CAQM doing?
21:04It has the enforcement powers.
21:07It has almost all the powers which has been given to them.
21:11So why are they there?
21:13Why isn't a police authority guy there?
21:17Why isn't a police guy over there to see that the enforcement is correct?
21:22But Mr. Azad, our investigation is claiming that operators claim they receive advanced telephone warnings whenever an enforcement of flying
21:30squads are conducting inspections.
21:33So I'm saying this racket network clearly involves questions about the integrity of the police, the intelligence, the enforcement operations
21:41across the board.
21:42I mean, you need a complete overhaul.
21:44Well, those without saying, but I'm saying, are you going to catch the small fish or the fish at the
21:52top?
21:53Why don't you get the names of who can get all this?
21:57If you have all the environment secretaries at your back and command, can't you get the names of all these
22:02operators?
22:03Can't you get the name of all the politicians who are owning these buses?
22:07Can't you get exactly the list of all those people, all those buses which are running as per BS6 or
22:15BS4?
22:16It's very simple to find out.
22:18Absolutely very simple.
22:20Why is it not being done?
22:22Okay.
22:23I've heard you loud and clear.
22:25Ronak Sutaria, CEO of Esperer Living.
22:27Are you surprised with what is being shown?
22:29Do you believe that this crackdown when it comes to transportation, which many surveys show is one of the bigger
22:36causes of pollution, that there isn't the will to enforce some of the regulations on the ground?
22:43Yeah.
22:44Hi, Rajdeep.
22:44Thanks for having me on the show.
22:46I think the smocks indicate, I think what you all found out, and especially the numbers that if it is
22:5250,000 to 60,000 per bus, you know, I was just looking at some aggregate numbers.
22:56There are 2 lakh BS4 buses and trucks flying in the NCR, or at least, you know, present in the
23:03NCR region.
23:04I mean, if you just put the number of 2 lakhs and 60,000, I mean, we are looking at
23:08a staggering number of 1,000 crores, which is part of this entire syndicate operation, you know.
23:15So breaking down a 1,000 crore operation, I was looking at the enforcement strength, and it looks like the
23:21Delhi Transport Police maximum has about a 900 sanctioned strength.
23:26To take on 2 lakh buses, the manual, I mean, the strength that has been sanctioned seems to be very,
23:34very underwhelming.
23:36I think, like the previous IPS officer mentioned, really speaking, technology has been developed, it's evolved.
23:45I mean, the automatic number, you know, recognition has been implemented in London for this specific purpose of low emission
23:53zones, and they got a 95% compliance.
23:56Explain that to us.
23:57What do they do in London, for example?
24:00So London has implemented an ultra-low emission zone, where instead of implementing it across a 15,000 square kilometre
24:08region, which is comparable to Delhi NCR,
24:12they created pockets of low emission zones, which were found to be highly vulnerable based on the population spread, where
24:21schools, hospitals, senior citizens were found to be most present.
24:26And they ensured that you get a 95% to 99% of vehicular pollution compliance, and they've actually done
24:34it.
24:34So London and Brussels now in front of us in the last four years have implemented their low emission zones
24:39and got a 99% compliance.
24:42How do they get the 99% compliance?
24:47Is it with tough enforcement?
24:48Rajdeep, Rajdeep, it has been on the back of very, very rigorous technology, which actually CAQM should have implemented.
24:56There is no reason why, you know, the 2 lakh buses could have vehicle trackers.
25:01There's no reason we should not know where every single BS4 bus is in the city or in the region.
25:09You know, vehicle tracking is happening now for the last 10 to 15 years.
25:13It should have been implemented.
25:14It cost 2,000 rupees to put a vehicle tracker on any of these buses.
25:18You know, it should have been implemented across the board.
25:22I will actually venture to say that even the BS6 vehicles, you know, there is a real world emissions test
25:28done,
25:29where they found that even if you are BS6, you could be having emissions which are 14 times,
25:35between four times to 14 times of the lab reported BS6 emissions.
25:41So, the battle will not be over if we only keep BS4 out.
25:46And the BS6 emissions test was done over a 1 lakh tailpipe real world emissions test.
25:52You know, it's not a small sample.
25:54100,000 vehicles, tailpipes in the real world were tracked.
25:59Emissions were found to be four times what the manufacturers have reported.
26:03And this is for BS6.
26:04So, we are in for the long haul, you know, just transitioning from four to six is a part of
26:10the story.
26:10But I will say, you know, I'll conclude over here that the officials who are supposed to enforce the BS4
26:16ban
26:17need to be made aware that the BS6 vehicles are 90% less polluting, 90 to 95% less polluting
26:24than the BS4.
26:25You know, so the 50,000 that they are taking as part of what you found, you know,
26:31they need to be made aware that they are allowing vehicles which are 95% more polluting from NOx and
26:37PM.
26:37It's a staggering number.
26:39Right. I just want to bring in also Harinder Dhingra.
26:42Mr. Dhingra, you have one PIL concerning the Aravallis in the High Court
26:48in which construction activity is prohibited till a final decision is taken.
26:52And we've seen even with the Aravallis, you had to actually take your battle to the street,
26:57make it a citizen's movement.
26:59With pollution, is that what we are going to have to do?
27:02Make this some kind of a citizen's movement.
27:04Wherein, you know, it's not going to…
27:07The enforcement authorities are going to have to wake up and smell not the smoke but the coffee.
27:13Thank you so much.
27:14You believe that that's going to…
27:15Is it possible to do that, you believe, with pollution like what you've done with the Aravallis?
27:20Yes, it's possible. Thank you so much for having me in the show.
27:24What you have done is a sting operation is excellent.
27:27The things in Gurugama, Faridabad are equally worse than the one you have done it.
27:34People don't have their B6 buses.
27:37In schools and the universities and other, the P4 buses are playing.
27:41Nobody is chalaning anybody. There is no accountability.
27:44As far as the Aravalli issue is concerned, there is a construction ban on the Aravalli
27:49as per the Honourable High Court Order of 13 February 2020.
27:53But the construction is going on.
27:55The mining is there.
27:56As a single person or as aware citizens, certain people can go and report the matter.
28:02But what happens is when the high and mightiest do not follow the rule of the law,
28:08then the problem arises.
28:09In the one case, in our case, in Gurgaon, we have a force minister, environment minister,
28:14who is building 20 acres of farmhouse in the Aravallis.
28:17If they get the permission, CLUs to do that, who is going to stop?
28:21Your minister is building 20 acres of farmland in a prohibited area in the Aravallis?
28:27Yes, catchment of Aravalli. That's an area, Gareth Purbas, where he has been given CLU by his department.
28:37My RTI reply says that he doesn't have the water connection, he doesn't have sewer connection,
28:42the road is not there of 40 meters, which is required to be there, but still he was given.
28:47Now 20 acres of land, how many trees are going to be, they are going to fell the trees for
28:52that.
28:52So, the high and mighty, it has to be people movement, as you rightly said it.
28:57People have to come, like in December we did, we made candle marches, we organized seminars,
29:04we tried to make awareness available to all the villages we went to in Jaipur.
29:09So there's Aravallis from here till Mount Abu.
29:12We were interested in saving it.
29:14So you're saying, you're saying this needs to be a citizen movement, you can involve,
29:19you know, schools are closed today, in several parts now we've been told hybrid model, take children home,
29:25you're going to have to involve school children, parents, teachers, you need a vote bank.
29:31The point I'm coming to at the end of the day, to get our politicians to wake up,
29:35you're going to have to link it in a way to the power that people,
29:38that if you don't give me clean air, I'm not going to vote for you.
29:42You rightly said it in December, what happened in Jaipur was worth seeing it.
29:48People from villages came, people from villages in Gurgaon, people from villages in Rivadi,
29:54they came onto the streets, they demonstrated against the Supreme Court order,
29:58they raised their voices, even the Honourable Chief Justice was very nice to take note of the public rising against
30:06this kind of...
30:06I take your point, I take your point.
30:08Just a final word from you, Mr. Azad.
30:11Do you believe that anything will change or we'll be back next year, same place, same time, another thing,
30:17operation, government will say,
30:18I absolutely agree with you, Rajdeep, nothing will change.
30:25And that's why I'm so happy what Mr. Harinder Dhingra has said and what the earlier CEO spoke.
30:32Unless you catch the guys at the top, nothing will happen.
30:38Supreme Court made the Committee for Air Quality Monitoring.
30:41What does it do?
30:43It does nothing.
30:44It has an army of people, an army of secretaries under them.
30:49It doesn't have a pollution board officer as the head.
30:52It has an IS Babu who has done no enforcement.
30:56Can't they make up technology?
30:59He's very right.
31:00Can't they make up...
31:01They were eating samosas and having teas in the conferences.
31:05They were not inviting objections.
31:07Objections, exactly.
31:09So they are not...
31:10They can't distinguish between BS4 and BS6.
31:13And tell me that BS4 vehicles in Delhi don't make pollution or emission.
31:20The most critical thing is the emission standard, whether it's BS6 or BS4.
31:27And your pollution certificate only measures the smoke opacity.
31:32It does not measure the nitrous oxide, which is the most critical part.
31:39So we are behind in our own, you know, methodology.
31:43What we do is the top who has to be caught.
31:46You dismiss this CAQM because it is doing nothing.
31:51It is just leaving everything.
31:53And we are going to come up with the same situation next year if we leave it to them.
31:59Okay, I'm going to leave it there.
32:01Those are sobering thoughts to ponder over.
32:04Clearly, enforcement and accountability is needed.
32:08Heads must roll.
32:10This thing, operation, is only the tip of the iceberg.
32:13The truth of the matter is the network is spread wide.
32:16And breaking it will require political will.
32:20Do you really have the political will to target the pollution nexus?
32:24We'll wait and see.
32:25I appreciate my guests joining me on that big story.
32:28We will keep tracking this air emergency in this country.
32:32Let's turn from there to another kind of battle which is being fought in Tamil Nadu.
32:36Which is witnessing a fresh wave of murders that have put the new chief minister, Vijay's government,
32:42under mounting pressure over law and order.
32:44Vijay has now met party MLAs to discuss law and order and their conduct.
32:49But will the government act decisively to curb the rising crime?
32:53It's one of the first tests that the Vijay government is really facing.
32:57Take a look.
33:06Days after Diwali, when over 10 murders took place in Tamil Nadu, the crime graph is still rising.
33:14In the latest incidents, two people were killed in Chennai.
33:20One victim was brutally murdered in broad daylight, while another was found with his head smashed and his brain scattered
33:27at the scene.
33:28In another daylight murder, a man was hacked to death in Abhiraman Puram.
33:34Six months into the TVK, government's tenure, concerns over law and order are mounting.
33:41Sources tell India today that the centre has fought an assessment from Governor R.V. R. Lekar on the law
33:48and order in the state.
33:49The Governor is meeting the Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, in Tuttukuri.
33:54The TVK is under pressure, with Allai Congress 2 slamming the Vijay government over the law and order.
34:23Even as the crimes mount in the state, two TVK MLAs are also facing allegations of assaulting
34:29and harassing citizens.
34:32The DMK has accused the TVK government of backing errant MLAs.
34:57The TVK, meanwhile, has maintained that the police will not be biased in their investigations.
35:28Six months into the government's tenure, concerns over law and order.
35:32How long will Chief Minister Vijay take to crack the whip on crime?
35:38Bureau Report, India Today.
35:41Former Australian cricketer, Usman Khwaja's sensational revelations about sandpaper ball tampering have left Australian cricket in turmoil once again.
35:51In his book titled Sabra, Khwaja claims the entire Australian team knew about the use of sandpaper to tamper with
35:59the ball in the infamous Cape Town Test of 2018.
36:03When sandpaper gate was exposed back then, Cricket Australia had pinned the blame on Captain Steve Smith, Vice Captain David
36:11Warner and Cameron Bancroft, all of whom were banned for a year.
36:15Warner has now come out in support of Khwaja's claim, but bowler Mitchell Stark has rejected it.
36:21In 2021, bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Stark, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon had issued a statement claiming they were not
36:29aware of ball tampering.
36:53So, is the entire Australian team involved in ball tampering as is now being suggested by Usman Khwaja?
37:00Do the Aussies need to come clean and tell the world where they stand on the issue of ball tampering?
37:06Is ball tampering widespread?
37:08Those are the questions that I want to raise.
37:10Is this now only an issue of just one or two players or the entire team being involved?
37:18Shishi Ratangdi, former Mumbai cricketer joins me.
37:22Also joining me is Atul Vasan, former Test cricketer joins me.
37:26Good to have both of you on the show.
37:29Atul Vasan, you are a fast bowler, so you should know.
37:31Can ball tampering take place without the bowlers knowing about it?
37:38The batsmen got banned for a year, captain, vice-captain and the opening batsmen.
37:43And the bowlers said they were unaware.
37:45Unaware of a ball with sandpaper being used.
37:49Yeah, I actually, when it happened, you know, it was quite comic.
37:54Because you can't have the whole team in the docks.
37:56So, few people took the rap, you know, and everybody just went on with it.
38:00But it is hilarious that, you know, the bowlers didn't know about it.
38:04Because they're getting the ball in their hand with the work being done on it.
38:06And I think ball tampering started with the erstwhile Pakistani, you know, the quartet,
38:13Imran Khan, Vasih Makram.
38:14And we found out about, after four years ago, and that what, there was bottle casting used.
38:19But that was not, that was early days, days of innocence.
38:21But I think everybody caught on.
38:23And the rules and the conduct also was upgraded to make sure.
38:27But then it was so, such foolhardy, because this happened in Port Elizabeth also.
38:31And they kept on, kept at it.
38:33And they just made the poor guy's skateboard.
38:36And we saw some tears and all.
38:39And the bowlers, you're sure all the bowlers, so you're sure all the bowlers knew it.
38:43Star, Hazelwood, and companies knew about it.
38:46There's no way that I get a ball in my hand.
38:49And there's some work done on it.
38:51And I don't know about it.
38:52You know, this is like, you know, saying there's a month without Sundays.
38:56It's silly.
38:57Right.
38:57You know, I want to bring in Shishir Atangdi on this.
39:00Shishir, the Australians, you know, do they need, it's eight years since Sandpaper Gate.
39:07Pat Cummins is now the captain of the Australian team.
39:10Here is Usman Khwaja saying the entire team knew about it.
39:12Do you believe that the issues now should be revived?
39:16That there should be accountability?
39:18The player should admit if they were all, as Atul says, it couldn't have been done without the bowling group
39:24knowing about it.
39:27Absolutely, Rajdeep.
39:29Firstly, I mean, imagine a bride not knowing who's done your makeup.
39:33I mean, the bride ought to know who's done the makeup.
39:36And that is so important because the bride is going to actually walk the aisle.
39:40And I refer to the bride as the fast bowlers here and the bowlers who actually deliver the ball to
39:46the batsmen.
39:47So if they are not aware of it, then the Australians were not exactly born in the Vatican, you know.
39:52They're born in Australia.
39:53And that for me is a big surprise that none of them have put their hand up and said we
39:59knew about it.
39:59There was the leadership group.
40:01There was the core, the captain.
40:03And there are the team players.
40:04Now, Atul will tell you correctly that if the ball is being tampered with…
40:09I mean, gone are the days of sandpaper where you used it to scrape off the Lindsay Royal on your
40:14cricket bat.
40:15It's being used for something else.
40:17And something else that is going to have a direct impact on the game.
40:21Now, if that has happened and if the bowlers are not aware, I'm not prepared to believe it like everybody
40:25else.
40:27So what can be done eight years later?
40:30No, but Shishir, eight years later, can you do anything about it?
40:33Or do you let sleeping dogs lie?
40:34No, statute of limitations apply.
40:36statute of limitations apply.
40:38But quickly, Shishir, do you believe it's too late now?
40:41Yeah, it is too late.
40:44But of course, there is a learning from this with Osman.
40:46I mean, Osman could have probably spoken about it.
40:48He held back because of his commitments, his contractual obligations with the Australian cricket board.
40:54There could have been multiple reasons.
40:56Now that he's come out with it, at least we are aware that when something like this…
41:00I'll give you a small example.
41:01When you…
41:01In a cricket match now, there's one man responsible for shining the ball to keep it in control.
41:08And if you see, his sleeve is always going to be closer to the wrist, longer than the normal sleeve
41:13that comes to the wrist.
41:15It comes right up to his palm because he gets a better grip of shining the ball.
41:19Things have become technical even in the way you operate.
41:23Ball management is a huge part of cricket today.
41:26And if it's eight years later, it better be eight years later.
41:29You know, we go back to the John Lever days of Vaseline.
41:33Things changed after that.
41:35Then there was the aluminium bat.
41:37Things changed after that.
41:38Things better change now with the sandpaper gate.
41:41Yeah, only one thing that happened.
41:43In the public court.
41:43Yeah, go ahead.
41:44We should say, we should just tone down Australians to be less cocky, less rude because they've been found as
41:50cheats.
41:51You're calling the Australian cheats.
41:53Now there will be those as you all yourself.
41:55No, no, but Atul, you yourself…
41:57No, no, hold on.
41:58You yourself admit that the Pakistanis started it.
42:01They used bottle openers.
42:04We've known about the English, for example.
42:06Mike Atherton was accused of having jelly beans in his pocket.
42:10So, other countries have used it.
42:12Are you saying it's only the Australians or it's widespread?
42:16It's the timeline.
42:17I think because earlier days, it was just pushing the envelope.
42:20It was not a liable offence and all that.
42:23And people thought we can get away with it.
42:25But as it went on and people were caught doing it,
42:28then the code of conduct specifically says that you can't do this.
42:31Imagine, remember that South African saga when Tendulkar got for putting that sawdust on it.
42:38So, I think there have been ways people try to find out where they can actually tweak the rules.
42:45But actually, now it is pretty black and white.
42:47There's no such thing as half pregnant.
42:50Either you're pregnant or you're not.
42:51So, Aussies have cheated.
42:53Aussies have cheated.
42:57Three players faced a one-year ban, spent one year out of the game.
43:01Warner, Bancroft and Steve Smith.
43:04Do you believe that the other players should now, eight years later, also face some repercussions or no?
43:09Forget it.
43:09They've learned their lesson.
43:10Move ahead.
43:11Very quickly.
43:13I think they need to move ahead because it's two, you know, eight years is a long time.
43:17But sadly, the guy with his hand in the cookie jar got caught.
43:21And, you know, the people who are responsible for it got banned.
43:25But, you see, I'm not prepared to believe that the bowlers didn't know about it.
43:29And Sabr probably, you know, has patience in Urdu.
43:33It's given everybody an opportunity to understand that eight years later,
43:38it's still got to be believed that everybody in that dressing room knew what was happening.
43:43It's not that they were completely oblivious of what was happening in that dressing room.
43:48Imagine if India had done this.
43:51Yeah, imagine if India had done, that's a good question.
43:54Imagine if India had done this, you know, the Indian players would have been targeted.
43:58This time it's the Australians.
43:59And as Atul Vasan puts it, it's time for the Australians to put their hands up and say,
44:04Mia Kalpa.
44:04But good to have both of you on the show.
44:06Thank you very much for joining me.
44:08A bit of a break from the usual news to get in that big cricket story.
44:12But let's come back to a get real India where Bihar's controversial MLA, Anand Singh,
44:18is gearing up for a mega wedding at his home.
44:21Guess what?
44:22He's gifting a three crore rupee Land Rover Defender to his daughter and a BMW for his son-in-law
44:28to be.
44:28But there is more.
44:29Here is a report on what is being called Bihar's wedding of the decade.
44:38The Land Rover Defender has become a hot topic of discussion in Bihar.
44:43The SUV worth around three crore rupees is Bahubali MLA Anand Singh's wedding gift
44:49to his younger daughter Shivangi Singh, who is getting married to U.S.-based management professional
44:55Rishikesh Kumar on November 25th.
44:58The BMW car parked next to the SUV will go to the Mokamma legislator's son, Abhinav,
45:04whose Janayu ceremony will be held soon.
45:06It is the wedding that has sparked curiosity and made headlines.
45:11Anand Singh, who was recently expelled by the JDU, is expecting two lakh people.
45:15The number could even go up to four lakh to attend the wedding.
45:19In addition to political leaders, invitees have been sent to several Bollywood and Bhojpuri
45:24stars, including Sonu Sood, Maitli Thakur, MP Manoj Diwari, Pawan Singh and Akshara Singh.
45:45The highlight will be a horse race held to celebrate the occasion.
45:49The winner will be a Mahindra Thar and the runner-up of motorcycle.
45:54Several acres are being leveled to set up the pandan.
45:58Preparations are in full swing at the groom's house as well.
46:02We are working on a cultural program.
46:05It's a good thing.
46:06The cultural program is also brought up.
46:08We have all the people who come here.
46:11But I will do it with the children.
46:13I will do it with the children here.
46:15The event is already being billed as the wedding of the decade in Bihar.
46:27Though Anand Singh is plurging, he has made one thing clear.
46:30There will be no firecrackers keeping environment concerns in mind.
46:34Vishubham Lal and Sujit Kumar, Bureau Report, India Today.
46:41Okay, let's leave you though with not just one, but two images of the day.
46:46India's former hockey captain and Olympic gold medal winner,
46:50MM Somaya had his gold medal stolen from his Bengaluru home a few days ago.
46:55Today, the Bengaluru police arrested two men involved in the theft.
46:59The best news, they recovered several medals, including the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold that Somaya had won.
47:07A relief, Somaya said he felt like winning the medal all over once again.
47:12One of the finest sportspersons you can meet.
47:14Good to see that.
47:15Our second image is a little different.
47:18Music composer Anirudh Ravichandar and Sunrisers Hyderabad co-owner Kavya Maran tied the knot in an intimate destination wedding in
47:29Greece.
47:30The newlyweds have shared their first pictures dressed in elegant traditional ensemblers.
47:36Among the guests was M.K. Stallone of the DMK and superstar Rajni Khan was also there.
47:43The couple are expected to host a grand reception in Chennai on the 21st of November.
47:50That's our image of the day.
47:52Thanks for watching.