DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA ● REG.NO. MCS/067/2018 - 20 RNI REGN. NO. 1543/57 JOURNALISM OF COURAGE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2024, MUMBAI, LATE CITY, 18 PAGES `5.00 ● WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 DISTRICT COURT-SWARGATE RUSSIA INTERESTED TO COLLABORATE Infrapushin Maharashtra: PuneMetrogets newstretch Small reactors get traction: Pvt players offer captive sites for power projects Small Modular Reactors seen as key for countries to achieve energy transition ANIL SASI NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 29 INDIA’S PLANS TO get into the manufacturing value chain of Small Modular Reactors is yielding some positives with a handful of private players learnt to haveshowninterestindeploying these at their captive site. Since the talks are sensitive, sources saiddisclosingnamesmaynotbe appropriate at this stage. SMRs — with a capacity of 30MWe to 300 MWe per unit — are increasingly seen as importantfornuclearenergytoremain a commercially competitive option in the future. India is pushing for a leadership slot in this small reactor space, both as a way of fulfilling its commitment to clean energy transition, and bundling SMRs as a technologyled foreign policy pitch. The government’s push comesata timewhentwocountries that have already taken a lead in SMRs — Russia and China —arefindingitdifficulttodobusi- 30/09/2024 88 116 142 75 PM Modi inaugurates Solapur airport, launches projects worth Rs 11,200 cr What sets SMRs apart SMRS ARE small reactors offering 30-300 MWe power output per unit, and are seen as effective in not just producing base load power (where thermal is seen as important), but also amongst renewables as a more carbon-neutral source. ness outside of their respective geographies. With SMRs seen as playing a key role in countries achievingtheirenergytransition goals, Russia is also learnt to be keen to expand its nuclear cooperation with India to include a partnershipinSMRs,sourcessaid. According to government officials, detailed technical discussions are currently underway in policy circles to plan a roadmap for studying the feasibility and effectiveness of the deployment CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 ‘‘We cover each other’s mistakes, don’t point fingers... that’s the new Indian style’’ HARDIK SINGH HOCKEY VICE CAPTAIN PAGE 12 MANOJ MORE PUNE, SEPTEMBER 29 FLOODS, LANDSLIDES IN NEPAL: TOLL RISES TO 170 A flooded area after heavy rainfall in Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on Sunday. Officials said 170 people have been killed in the rain-triggered floods and landslides across the country, with 42 people still missing. PTI REPORT,PAGE14 About 30,000 yet to return from S-E Asia, Punjab tops list MAHENDER SINGH MANRAL NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 29 WHILE 29,466 of the 73,138 Indians who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar andVietnamonvisitorvisasfrom January2022toMay2024areyet to return, more than half (17,115) oftheseareinthe20-39yearsage group; 21,182 are males; over one-thirdarefromthreestates— Punjab (3,667), Maharashtra (3,233) and Tamil Nadu (3,124); andThailandaccountsforover69 per cent of the total at 20,450. These new details have emergedindatacompiledbythe CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY STATES WITH HIGHEST NO. OF VISITORS WHO DIDN’T RETURN FROM S-E ASIA Punjab 3,667 Haryana 1,928 Rajasthan 1,041 Gujarat 2,068 Delhi 2,140 Uttar Pradesh 2,946 Maharashtra 3,233 Karnataka Telangana 1,169 1,200 Kerala 2,659 Tamil Nadu 3,124 Source: Bureau of Immigration INSIDE RISE IN FDI SHOWS SUCCESS OF ‘MAKE IN INDIA’: PM KARAT IS POLITBURO COORDINATOR PAGE 9 NEARLYEIGHTyearsafterhelaid thefoundationstoneof thePune Metro Rail project, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday virtually inaugurated the 3.68km stretch of the Pune Metro from District Court to Swargate, marking completion of the project's first phase. The Prime Minister, ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra which are likely in November, also laid the foundation stone of various projects worthoverRs11,200croreinthe state via video conferencing. Flagging off the first run of the Metro from District Court to Swargate stretch, the Prime Minister, who began his speech in Marathi, lauded the work done for expansion of the Pune Metro and slammed the previous Congress-led UPA government for “doing nothing” to alleviate the transport miseries of Pune residents. “TheneedforPuneMetrowas discussed in 2008. But in eight years, the previous government could not even erect a pillar of Pune Metro. After coming to power,ourgovernmenttookquick decisions and laid the foundation stone in 2016 and has set up a modernnetworkofPuneMetro,” the Prime Minister said, adding thatPuneMetrowasmakingrapid Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Metro line connecting Shivajinagar District Court and Swargate in Pune on Sunday virtually. Pavan Khengre METRO:ANOVERVIEW Bhaktishakti PCMC Bhosari (Nashik Phata) Phugewadi Bopodi DISTRICT COURT Vanaz Budhwar Peth Mandai SWARGATE progressandwasexpanding. He also laid the foundation stone for Swargate to Katraj CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Kanpur Test, Day 3: No rain, but Vardhaman Group CMD FIR filed against Ketan Parekh, poor drainage ensures no play Oswal duped of `7 crore, woman in `2-cr cheating case two arrested, say police PRATYUSH RAJ KANPUR, SEPTEMBER 29 THERE WAS no rain at Green Park stadium here throughout Sunday, but not a ball was bowled for the second successive day of the India-Bangladesh Test. The reason: an obsolete drainage system. With only 35 overs possible over three days, a draw is on the cards,aresultthat wouldimpact India's chances of making it to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Leading 1-0 in the series,RohitSharmaandhismen are scheduled to play New Zealand at home, followed by a DIVYA GOYAL GOPAL LUDHIANA, SEPTEMBER 29 Groundsmen remove the outfield covers at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur on Sunday. PTI five-Test tour of Australia. Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) treasurer Prem Manohar Gupta did concede that Green Park wasn’t as CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 POSING AS CBI officers, a gang of cyber fraudsters executed an elaborate plan — that included enacting a fake online Supreme Court hearing, fake arrest warrants and a two-day “digital surveillance” — to dupe Padma Bhushanawardeeandtextileindustrialist S P Oswal (82), the chairmanandmanagingdirector of Vardhman Group, of `7 crore, Ludhiana Police said Sunday. After an FIR was lodged, the police identified an inter-state VIJAY KUMAR YADAV MUMBAI, SEPTEMBER 29 Vardhman Group chairman SP Oswal, 82 gang and arrested two persons from Guwahati. A search is on to nab seven others, they said, adding that the gang was spread across Assam, West Bengal and Delhi. According to police, the fraudsters threatened Oswal withfake arrestwarrants, which CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 THEMUMBAIPoliceonSaturday booked Ketan Parekh, former stockbroker who was convicted in the 2001 securities scam, and a 37-year-old woman for allegedly duping an Andheribased share market investor of `2.17 crore. WhileanFIRhasbeenfiledat the Versova police station under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 34 (common intention) against the duo, no arrests have been made yet. According to the FIR, the Parekh was convicted in 2001 securities scam complainant,a47-year-oldshare marketinvestorlivinginAndheri (West), first met the woman in 2015. In December 2020, she reportedly introduced him to Parekh at a five-star hotel in Bandra.ShetoldhimParekhwas the stock operator for ‘Seacoast’, ‘Pessalo Digital’ and ‘Spacenet’ companies, says the FIR. In June 2021, the woman allegedlyaskedthecomplainantto invest in the stock market in her name, through Parekh, and assured him of a “good profit”. The complainantgave`55lakhtoher on June 20, 2021, for investing in 'Seacoast'company,accordingto theFIR.Thesameday,shereportedly told him that she had given the money to Parekh. According to the FIR, the complainant rented a flat in Versova that month, and he and the woman began living there. He claimed to have deposited `71.85 lakh in her bank account in 2021, for which he reportedly sold his family's jewellery. Later, the complainant allegedly found that the woman CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 A girl called Anna: ‘She gave her all to this career, even her life’ PAGE 1 ANCHOR NARAYANAN S KOCHI, SEPTEMBER 29 ACROSS THE St George Jacobite Church in Kangarappady, a quiet suburb in Kochi, stands a twostorey house. A beautiful lawn leads to the porch, where the main entrance is flanked by a swingontheleftandakennelfor Scotch,thelabrador,ontheright. Of late, the house has been teeming with visitors — among others, a team from EY India — seeking to offer their condolencestoSibiJosephandhiswife Anita Augustine, both 60. Nearly two months ago, late on July 20, their daughter, Anna SebastianPerayil,26,achartered accountant (CA) at S R Batliboi, a member firm under EY Global Ltd,passedawayduetoacardiac arrest in Pune. A letter dated September 8 by Anna’s mother to EY India chairperson Rajiv Memani went viral on social media on September 17, triggering discussions on “toxic” workplaces that “glorify overwork”. Besides stating that no one from EY had turned up for her daughter’s fu- neral in Kochi on July 23, Anita’s letterallegedthatAnnahad died to “backbreaking workload”. EY had denied that “work pressure” could have led to her death.“Wehavearoundonelakh employees. There is no doubt each one has to work hard. Anna worked with us only for four months. She was allotted work like any other employee. We don’t believe that work pressure could have claimed her life,” Memani had told The Indian Express.Thecompanyalsoissued astatementcondolingthedeath. Back at the house, on a table in the drawing room is a portrait of Anna — wearing a radiant Anna Sebastian Perayil with father Sibi Joseph Perayil and mother Anita Augustine after her CA convocation in July. smile — surrounded by candles, flowers and a painting of hers by a friend. In her room, accountancy books stacked on a bookshelf are a daily reminder of her death.“Shegaveheralltothiscareer, even her life,” says Sibi, aretired additional director in the stateagriculturedepartment,his voice trembling. Though Anita, a retired State Bank of India manager, says she wrote to Memani “just to bring out the truth regarding the work culture (at companies)”, Sibi reiterated that they have no plans to take “legal action” against EY. Sibi says Anna was a “topper” both at school (Rajagiri Public School)andcollege(SacredHeart College).“ShepassedherCAexam in November 2023 and joined EY inMarch.Shewantedtoworkata Big 4 company (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and Pricewaterhouse Coopers). She got an offer from Deloitte in IT audit but wanted to do statutory audit — something that EY offered,” says the father. Pune was Anna’s first stint away from home. Before Anna, Sibi’s son went to study in Thiruvananthapuram, around 200 km away. Anna’s “relentless” work schedule forced her to choose Pune as the venue for her July 7 CA convocation, he says, adding that Anita and he travelled to Pune for the ceremony. During their visit, Anna told them about her “chest feeling constricted” and was promptly taken to a hospital.Sibisays, “Thecardiologist said it was acid reflux due to improper diet and sleep.” Sibi says Anna collapsed on the stairs while walking up her second-floorroomwithhertakeawayfoodaround10pm.Shewas takentoahospitalwhenhercondition worsened, but she died of a cardiac arrest en route, he says. The 30 hours that followed were“painful”,saysAnna’sPunebasedcousinMithunJames,who CONTINUED ON PAGE 2